Chalcogenide Nanoparticles for Low-Intensity Light Upconversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing upconverting materials require high input light intensities for efficient photon upconversion, which is not compatible with applications like solar energy harvesting and medical imaging, and they can be toxic, making them undesirable for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
Chalcogenide nanoparticles, such as copper selenide nanoparticles, are used to upconvert low-intensity light into higher-energy photons, with a lower upconversion threshold and enhanced efficiency, and are non-toxic and stable, allowing their use in various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If existing upconverting materials are used, then photon upconversion can be achieved, but high input light intensities are required which are not compatible with solar energy harvesting and medical imaging applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional upconverting materials to chalcogenide nanoparticles, which fundamentally alters the upconversion mechanism to enable operation at low light intensities. This material parameter change allows the system to achieve efficient upconversion under solar illumination conditions and low-power laser excitation in medical imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structures by combining chalcogenide nanoparticles with various host materials including polymers, glasses, and biological coatings. These composite materials enable the upconversion function to operate efficiently at low intensities while providing additional benefits such as biocompatibility, stability, and tunable optical properties for different applications
2Reliability
If existing upconverting materials are used, then upconversion function is achieved, but toxicity issues make them undesirable for widespread use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chalcogenide nanoparticles that can be designed as biodegradable or excretable materials for medical applications. These nanoparticles provide the necessary upconversion performance temporarily and then degrade or eliminate themselves, avoiding long-term toxicity accumulation in the body
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biocompatible coating materials as intermediaries between the chalcogenide nanoparticle core and the biological environment. These coatings provide a protective interface that maintains upconversion performance while eliminating direct toxic interactions with biological tissues and cells
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
The chalcogenide nanoparticles efficiently upconvert low-intensity light into visible light, improving photovoltaic conversion efficiency and enabling their use in medical and solar energy applications without the toxicity and stability issues of previous materials.
Implementation Method 1
Photon upconversion is the transformation of lower-energy light into higher-energy light. Photon upconversion using suitable upconverting materials has the potential to be applicable in a variety of fields.
Implementation Method 2
a light-sensitive material configured to absorb upconverted light generated by the chalcogenide nanoparticles
Implementation Method 3
the light-sensitive material is a light absorber in a solar cell
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes chalcogenide nanoparticles and a light-sensitive material configured to absorb upconverted light generated by the chalcogenide nanoparticles. A method includes receiving, at chalcogenide nanoparticles, input light having a first wavelength; and upconverting the input light using the chalcogenide nanoparticles, to generate output light having a second wavelength, in which the second wavelength is less than the first wavelength. A device includes a transparent material, the transparent material being transparent to at least one of infrared light and visible light, and chalcogenide nanoparticles embedded in the transparent material.