Light-selective particles, related methods and related applications

Abstract

A method for preparing a light sensitive particle that uses at least one metal precursor material and at least one dopant precursor material mixed in solution absent a surfactant. Upon an optional adjustment of pH to about 3 to about 6, a light-sensitive particle comprising a metal-dopant material may be formed and separated from the solution. The light-sensitive particle may comprise a Q-dot particle. Also described are the particles themselves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particle comprising at least one portion that includes a light-selective composition absent a surfactant residue. 
     
     
         2 . The particle of  claim 1  wherein the particle has a diameter from about 5 to about 10 nanometers. 
     
     
         3 . The particle of  claim 2  wherein the light-selective composition comprises a light-emitting composition. 
     
     
         4 . The particle of  claim 3  wherein the light emitting composition comprises a fluorescent light-emitting composition. 
     
     
         5 . The particle of  claim 4  wherein the fluorescent light-emitting composition comprises a quantum dot. 
     
     
         6 . The particle of  claim 1  wherein the particle comprises a core-shell particle. 
     
     
         7 . The particle of  claim 6  wherein at least a core layer within the core-shell particle comprises the light-selective material. 
     
     
         8 . The particle of  claim 6  wherein at least a shell layer within the core-shell particle comprises the light selective material. 
     
     
         9 . The particle of  claim 6  wherein each of a core layer and a shell layer within the core-shell particle comprise a light selective material. 
     
     
         10 . The particle of  claim 6  wherein one of the core layer and the shell layer within the core-shell particle comprises an insulator material formed from a precursor material selected from the group consisting of sodium gluconate, sodium salicylate, N-acetylcysteine and glutathione. 
     
     
         11 . The particle of  claim 6  wherein the shell layer within the core-shell particle comprises an insulator material. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preparing a particle comprising:
 mixing in an aqueous solution absent a surfactant material at least one metal precursor material and at least one dopant precursor material to provide a metal-dopant material particle absent a surfactant residue.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising after mixing in the aqueous solution absent the surfactant material the at least one metal precursor material and the at least one dopant precursor material adjusting a pH of the aqueous solution to facilitate production of the metal-dopant particle absent the surfactant residue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the pH is adjusted to about 3 to about 6. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the metal-dopant material particle comprises a binary semiconductor material. 
     
     
         16 . A method for preparing a particle comprising:
 mixing in an aqueous solution absent a surfactant material at least one metal precursor material and at least one dopant precursor material to provide a metal-dopant material particle absent a surfactant residue; and   further reacting the metal-dopant material particle absent the surfactant residue with an encapsulant precursor material to provide a core-shell encapsulated metal—dopant material particle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulated metal-dopant material particle is encapsulated with an insulator material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulant precursor material comprises sodium gluconate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulant precursor material comprises sodium salicylate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulant precursor material comprises tetraethylorthosilicate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulant precursor material comprises N-acetylcysteine. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulant precursor material comprises glutathione. 
     
     
         23 . A particle comprising a first light sensitive area comprising a first light sensitive material and a second light sensitive area comprising a second light sensitive material different than the first light sensitive material. 
     
     
         24 . The particle of  claim 23  wherein:
 one of the first light sensitive material and the second light sensitive material comprises an inorganic light sensitive material; and 
 the other of the first light sensitive material and the second light sensitive material comprises an organic dye based light sensitive material.