Indium Phosphide Core Multi-Shell Quantum Dots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cadmium-containing quantum dots are toxic and face regulatory challenges, and their production processes are complex and costly due to the need for multiple synthesis stages and purification steps, limiting their use in optoelectronic components.

Innovation Solution

Development of cadmium-free core multi-shell quantum dots with an indium phosphide core and zinc selenide and zinc sulfide shells, produced using a one-pot method without intermediate cleaning processes, ensuring a similar lattice constant for the core and shell materials to enhance luminescence quantum yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cadmium-containing quantum dots are used, then luminescence quantum yield is improved, but toxicity and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminescence quantum yieldVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameters by replacing cadmium with indium phosphide core and zinc selenide/sulfide shells, maintaining the luminescence quantum yield through careful selection of shell materials with appropriate band gaps and lattice constants while eliminating toxicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite core-shell structures where the indium phosphide core provides luminescence and the zinc selenide/sulfide shells provide protection and enhance quantum yield, creating a non-toxic alternative to cadmium compounds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If multi-stage synthesis processes are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantum yieldVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple shell growth steps into a single one-pot synthesis process, where zinc selenide and zinc sulfide shells are formed sequentially in the same reaction vessel without intermediate purification, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining quantum yield

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary preparation of all reagents and precursors before the one-pot synthesis, ensuring that the core and shell materials form in the correct sequence and composition without requiring intermediate purification steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If intermediate purification steps are performed, then purity is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepurityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains continuous synthesis action throughout the one-pot process, where the core and shell materials form sequentially without interruption or purification steps, eliminating time losses associated with intermediate processing while maintaining product quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If lattice constant difference between core and shell is reduced, then luminescence quantum yield is improved, but material selection constraints increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminescence quantum yieldVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selecting specific zinc selenide and zinc sulfide shell materials with lattice constants that closely match indium phosphide, creating optimal local conditions at the core-shell interface for high quantum yield while managing the constraints through careful material selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 cadmium-free quantum dots achieve high luminescence quantum yields and simplified production, making them suitable for use in optoelectronic devices such as OLEDs and solar cells without the toxicity and environmental concerns of cadmium-based materials.

Implementation Method 1

the particle surface is often epitaxially coated with another semiconductor material. If this shell material has a wider band gap, the interaction of the exciton with defect states on the particle surface is reduced, which increases the probability of radiative recombination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEpitaxial coating: Epitaxy

Implementation Method 2

Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, are of particular interest for use in optoelectronic components due to their optical properties. The advantageous properties of such colloidal quantum dots include good luminescence efficiencies, good adjustability of the emission wavelength via the particle size

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLuminescence: Luminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2820108B1Luminescent, cadmium-free core/multi-shell quantum dots on the basis of indium phosphide
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP2820108B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2820108B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2820108B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The present invention relates to cadmium-free core/multi-shell quantum dots, a method for producing such cadmium-free core/multi-shell quantum dots, the use thereof and optoelectronic components having the cadmium-free core/multi-shell quantum dots.