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 technology is directed to the nanoparticles for use as molecular environmental sensors. The nanoparticles comprise a photoluminescence core and a plurality of ligands bound to the core and forming a quencher permeable ligand shell. The ligands comprise a reactive or charged moiety capable of being modulated between a first stand and a second state, and the proportion of ligands in each state determine the permeability of the ligand shell to a photoluminescence quencher.

A methodology for synthesizing a nanoparticle batch, such as but not limited to a metal chalcogenide nanoparticle batch and further such as but not limited to a metal sulfide nanoparticle batch is predicated upon an expectation and observation that at elevated concentrations of at least one reactant material within a heat-up nanoparticle batch synthesis method, the resulting nucleated batch comprises nanoparticles that may be dimensionally focused to provide a substantially monodisperse nanoparticle batch. The embodied methodology is also applicable to a continuous reactor. The embodied methodology also considers viscosity as a dimensionally focusing result effective variable.

A methodology for synthesizing a nanoparticle batch, such as but not limited to a metal chalcogenide nanoparticle batch and further such as but not limited to a metal sulfide nanoparticle batch is predicated upon an expectation and observation that at elevated concentrations of at least one reactant material within a heat-up nanoparticle batch synthesis method, the resulting nucleated batch comprises nanoparticles that may be dimensionally focused to provide a substantially monodisperse nanoparticle batch. The embodied methodology is also applicable to a continuous reactor. The embodied methodology also considers viscosity as a dimensionally focusing result effective variable.

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.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of chalcogenide materials and chalcogenide-based materials that exhibit improved light-driven properties and performance in comparison to conventional materials. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of cost- and time-efficient methods of making such materials.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of chalcogenide materials and chalcogenide-based materials that exhibit improved light-driven properties and performance in comparison to conventional materials. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of cost- and time-efficient methods of making such materials.

Provided is a method for producing metal chalcogenide nanomaterials, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous solution of a chalcogen precursor, a reducing agent and a metal salt; mixing the aqueous solution for a duration of time at a reaction temperature of between about 10 C. to about 40 C., inclusively; and separating the produced metal chalcogenide nanomaterials from the aqueous solution. Also provided is a method of converting metal chalcogenide nanoparticles into metal chalcogenide nanotubes or nanosheets, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous mixture of a chalcogen precursor, a reducing agent and the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles in water; and forming the nanotubes or nanosheets by stirring or not stirring the aqueous mixture, respectively.

Provided is a method for producing metal chalcogenide nanomaterials, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous solution of a chalcogen precursor, a reducing agent and a metal salt; mixing the aqueous solution for a duration of time at a reaction temperature of between about 10 C. to about 40 C., inclusively; and separating the produced metal chalcogenide nanomaterials from the aqueous solution. Also provided is a method of converting metal chalcogenide nanoparticles into metal chalcogenide nanotubes or nanosheets, comprising the steps of forming an aqueous mixture of a chalcogen precursor, a reducing agent and the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles in water; and forming the nanotubes or nanosheets by stirring or not stirring the aqueous mixture, respectively.