Gallium Sulfide Nanocrystals With Core-Shell Blue Emission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nanocrystal particles, particularly gallium sulfide-based ones, face challenges in achieving high luminous efficiency and narrow full width at half maximum emission while being free from hazardous heavy metals like cadmium, with limitations in controlling internal defects and forming effective shells.

Innovation Solution

Development of nanocrystal particles comprising a Group III-VI compound with gallium and sulfur, optimized through a core-shell structure and specific molar ratios, which are synthesized using a method involving gallium and sulfur precursors in an organic solvent, resulting in enhanced quantum efficiency and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If gallium sulfide-based nanocrystal particles are used to eliminate hazardous heavy metals, then toxicity is reduced, but luminous efficiency and emission width control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetoxicityVSAvoidluminous efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molar ratio of sulfur to gallium (S/Ga ratio) within specific ranges (1.0-3.0, preferably 1.5-2.5) to optimize the nanocrystal structure. This parameter optimization achieves both low toxicity by eliminating cadmium and high luminous efficiency (quantum yield ≥26%) with controlled emission width (FWHM ≤70 nm), resolving the contradiction between safety and performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material strategies by forming core-shell structures where gallium sulfide nanocrystals are combined with shell materials. This composite approach maintains the non-toxic gallium sulfide core while the shell provides structural stability and enhances optical properties, achieving both low toxicity and high reliability in luminous performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional synthesis methods are used, then production is simpler, but quantum efficiency and emission width control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthesis simplicityVSAvoidemission width control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by establishing specific S/Ga molar ratio ranges (1.0-3.0) and controlling reaction conditions such as temperature (250-400°C) and precursor concentrations. These controlled parameter variations enable precise manipulation of nanocrystal size and composition, achieving FWHM ≤70 nm emission width control while maintaining feasible synthesis procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies periodic action through controlled injection methods where precursors are added at specific time intervals during the synthesis process. This periodic addition strategy allows gradual nucleation and growth control, achieving narrow emission width (FWHM ≤70 nm) while maintaining a systematic and reproducible synthesis protocol

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Illumination intensity

If nanocrystal size is reduced to control emission wavelength, then blue light emission is achieved, but quantum efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemission wavelengthVSAvoidquantum efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by controlling the S/Ga molar ratio within specific ranges and optimizing reaction temperature (250-400°C). These parameter optimizations enable the formation of stable nanocrystals with sizes of 2-12 nm that emit blue light (380-485 nm) while maintaining high quantum efficiency (≥26%), preventing the efficiency loss typically associated with size reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses shell materials as intermediaries that包覆 (coat) the gallium sulfide nanocrystal cores. This intermediary shell structure protects the small-sized cores from surface defects and oxidation, maintaining high quantum efficiency while enabling the small size necessary for blue light emission through quantum confinement effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach achieves nanocrystal particles with improved luminous efficiency, reduced full width at half maximum emission, and increased chemical stability, emitting light in a desired wavelength range with low toxicity and without hazardous heavy metals.

Implementation Method 1

light emission from this particle may occur when an electron in an excited state resulting from light excitation or an applied voltage transitions from a conduction band to a valence band

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4375347A1Nanocrystal particles and production method thereof
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4375347A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4375347A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4375347A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A nanocrystal particle includes a Group III-VI compound including gallium and sulfur, wherein the nanocrystal particle is configured to emit a first light, a maximum emission peak of the first light is in a wavelength range of greater than or equal to about 300 nanometers and less than or equal to about 485 nanometers, and in the nanocrystal particle, a molar ratio of sulfur to gallium is greater than or equal to 1.8.