Market study: nanoscale thermometry based on giant quantum dots

在纳米尺度上监测温度正迅速成为至少三个纳米科学领域的关键任务，即微/纳米电子学、集成光子学和纳米生物技术，从而指出了多种技术机会。量子点（QDs）由于其温度依赖的光致发光（PL）特性而显示出其在纳米尺度测温方面的潜力。由于它们的尺寸非常小（通常从2到6纳米），它们具有独特的性能。当它们被能量源（电、紫外线辐射、光）激发时，根据它们的大小、形状和组成，它们会产生不同颜色的光。PL强度/峰值位置的变化已被广泛研究。然而，温度传感器的PL强度/峰值位置不仅取决于当地温度，还取决于多种其他因素。一种吸引人的替代方案是使用双发射系统，其中同时监测不同波长的两个发射带。温度通常由两个发射峰的强度比测量，允许系统自校准，增加其鲁棒性和可靠性。由于这些原因，在宽温度范围内制造坚固，精确和精密的纳米温度传感器仍然是非常具有挑战性的。我们的发明通过探索一种新的核/壳量子点来解决这些问题，它的直径超过10纳米，可以用作纳米温度计。除了具有生物相容性、自校准、超灵敏和多参数外，它还可以在很宽的温度范围内工作。本发明有望广泛应用于各个领域。因此，我们坚信，对这项创新技术进行市场研究是非常及时的，并将有助于加强加拿大高科技工业在国际舞台上的影响。

Monitoring temperature at the nanoscale is quickly becoming a critical task for at least three areas of nanoscience, i.e., micro/nano-electronics, integrated photonics and nanobiotechnology, thereby pointing to multiple technological opportunities. Quantum dots (QDs) have shown their potential for nanoscale thermometry due to their temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) properties. Because of their extremely small size (usually from 2 to 6 nm), they have unique properties. When they are excited with a source of energy (electricity, ultraviolet radiation, light), they generate light of different colours depending on their size, shape and composition. Variations in the PL intensity/peak position have been extensively investigated. However, the PL intensity/peak position of temperature sensors depends on not only the local temperature, but also multiple other factors. An appealing alternative is the use of double emitting systems, in which two emission bands at different wavelengths are simultaneously monitored. The temperature is typically measured from the intensity ratio of the two emission peaks, allowing self-calibration of the system and increasing its robustness and reliability. For these reasons, fabricating a robust, accurate and precise nanoscale temperature sensor in a wide temperature range is still very challenging. Our invention addresses these issues by exploring a new core/shell QD, which is over ten nanometers in diameter and can be used as a nanothermometer. It can operate in a wide range of temperatures, in addition to being biocompatible, self-calibrating, ultrasensitive and multiparametric. This invention is expected to widely benefit a variety of fields. Hence we strongly believe that a market study for this innovative technology is extremely timely and will contribute to reinforce the impact of the high-technology Canadian industry on the international scene.