Amine-Thiol Solvent Mixture for Selenium Nanoparticle Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dissolving selenium in solvents like tri-octyl phosphine are limited by cost, stability, and toxicity, and often result in contamination of final materials due to phosphorous incorporation, while alternative solvents like ethylenediamine and oleylamine have poor solubility and introduce boron and alkali ion contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mixture of amine and thiol solvents is used to dissolve selenium, allowing for the removal of sulfur-containing compounds and achieving a homogeneous solution for synthesizing pure selenide nanoparticles without phosphorus, sulfur, or boron contamination, enabling controlled size nanoparticle formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If tri-octyl phosphine is used to dissolve selenium, then selenium solubility is achieved, but phosphorous contamination occurs in the final material and the method is costly and toxic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful phosphorous component from the dissolution system by extracting it from the tri-octyl phosphine solvent. Instead, it uses a combination of amine and thiol solvents that do not introduce contaminating elements, thereby eliminating phosphorous contamination while maintaining selenium solubility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary dissolution system using amine and thiol solvents as mediators between the solid selenium and the final nanoparticle synthesis. These intermediary solvents provide the necessary selenium dissolution without the harmful effects of phosphorous-containing solvents
2Quantity of substance
If ethylenediamine is used to dissolve selenium, then selenium solubility is achieved, but the low boiling point temperature limits application and boron contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges amine and thiol solvents into a combined dissolution system. This combination provides the benefits of both solvent types: the amine component offers high boiling point and stability, while the thiol component enhances selenium dissolution capability, together overcoming the limitations of ethylenediamine alone
3Quantity of substance
If oleylamine is used to dissolve selenium, then selenium solubility is achieved, but only small quantities can be dissolved and sulfur contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a combination of amine and thiol solvents as intermediaries to dissolve selenium. The amine component provides high solubility capacity and stability, while the thiol component acts as a mediator that enables complete selenium dissolution without introducing sulfur contamination into the final nanoparticle product
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dissolution system by combining amine and thiol solvents in specific ratios. This parameter change enables the system to achieve high selenium solubility while maintaining purity, overcoming the limitations of oleylamine alone
4Quantity of substance
If amine and thiol solvents are mixed to dissolve selenium, then homogeneous solution is achieved with high concentration, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges amine and thiol solvents into a single dissolution step, combining their complementary properties to achieve high selenium concentration and homogeneous solution. This unified approach simplifies the overall process compared to using multiple separate dissolution and purification steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a stable, high-concentration selenium solution that can be used to synthesize pure selenide nanoparticles and mixed chalcogen materials, overcoming the limitations of previous methods by maintaining solubility and preventing contamination, and allowing for the formation of various selenide nanoparticles with controlled properties.
Implementation Method 1
mixing an amine solvent and a thiol solvent with the solid selenium to produce a liquid intermediate solution
Implementation Method 2
removing a sulfur containing compound from the liquid intermediate solution to produce a dissolved selenium liquid mixture
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein is a method for obtaining a dissolved selenium liquid mixture from solid selenium. The method involves mixing an amine solvent and a thiol solvent with the solid selenium to produce a liquid intermediate solution and removing a sulfur containing compound from the liquid intermediate solution to produce a dissolved selenium liquid mixture. A method for obtaining dissolved sulfur liquid mixture by mixing an amine with a thiol to produce a liquid solution that dissolves sulfur to produce a dissolved sulfur liquid mixture is also presented. In addition, a method for obtaining a dissolved sulfur and selenium liquid mixture from solid selenium and solid sulfur by mixing an amine solvent with a thiol solvent is presented.