A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the .[.procurors following.]. .Iadd.precursors to form nucleates followed .Iaddend.by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.

Present invention provides a process for the synthesis of size and composition tunable colloidal PbMgS core and PbMgS/MS core shell quantum dots emitting in the near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum in a single operation in a continuous flow reactor. M includes at least one of Cd, Mg, Zn and Cu metals.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for methods of making quantum dots (QDs) (passivated or unpassivated) using a continuous flow process, systems for making QDs using a continuous flow process, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the QDs produced using embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in solar photovoltaic cells, bio-imaging, IR emitters, or LEDs.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for methods of making quantum dots (QDs) (passivated or unpassivated) using a continuous flow process, systems for making QDs using a continuous flow process, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the QDs produced using embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in solar photovoltaic cells, bio-imaging, IR emitters, or LEDs.

Ligand-capped inorganic particles, films composed of the ligand-capped inorganic particles, and methods of patterning the films are provided. Also provided are electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic devices that incorporate the films. The ligands that are bound to the inorganic particles are composed of a cation/anion pair. The anion of the pair is bound to the surface of the particle and at least one of the anion and the cation is photosensitive.

Highly ordered arrays of 3D faceted nanoparticle supercrystals are formed by self-assembly with controlled nanoparticle packing and unique facet dependent optical property by using a binary solvent diffusion method. The binary diffusion results in supercrystals whose size and quality are determined by initial nanoparticle concentration and diffusion speed. The supercrystal solids display unique facet-dependent surface plasmonic and surface-enhanced Raman characteristics. The supercrystals have potential applications in areas such as optics, electronics, and sensor platforms.

Highly ordered arrays of 3D faceted nanoparticle supercrystals are formed by self-assembly with controlled nanoparticle packing and unique facet dependent optical property by using a binary solvent diffusion method. The binary diffusion results in supercrystals whose size and quality are determined by initial nanoparticle concentration and diffusion speed. The supercrystal solids display unique facet-dependent surface plasmonic and surface-enhanced Raman characteristics. The supercrystals have potential applications in areas such as optics, electronics, and sensor platforms.

In certain embodiments, a first semiconductor material is vaporized to generate a vapor phase condensate. The vapor phase condensate is allowed to form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are annealed to yield nanoparticles or cores. The cores are overcoated by introducing a solution containing second semiconductor material precursors in a coordinating solvent into a suspension of cores at a desired elevated temperature and mixing for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion of the shell into the core. The diffusion of the shell into the core causes the quantum dots to exhibit a broadened optical emission. The produced quantum dots may be incorporated into a quantum dot based radiation source.

In certain embodiments, a first semiconductor material is vaporized to generate a vapor phase condensate. The vapor phase condensate is allowed to form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are annealed to yield nanoparticles or cores. The cores are overcoated by introducing a solution containing second semiconductor material precursors in a coordinating solvent into a suspension of cores at a desired elevated temperature and mixing for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion of the shell into the core. The diffusion of the shell into the core causes the quantum dots to exhibit a broadened optical emission. The produced quantum dots may be incorporated into a quantum dot based radiation source.

The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of metal sulphide quantum dots by using a very low cost sulphur precursor as a sulphur source. The metal sulphide quantum dots finds application in optical devices selected from photovoltaic cells, photodetectors and light-emission devices.