The fabrication of asymmetric monometallic nanocrystals with novel properties for plasmonics, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. Asymmetric monometallic plasmonic nanocrystals are of both fundamental synthetic challenge and practical significance. In an example, a thiol-ligand mediated growth strategy that enables the synthesis of unprecedented Au Nanorod-Au Nanoparticle (AuNR-AuNP) dimers from pre-synthesized AuNR seeds. Using high-resolution electron microscopy and tomography, crystal structure and three-dimensional morphology of the dimer, as well as the growth pathway of the AuNP on the AuNR seed, was investigated for this example. The dimer exhibits an extraordinary broadband optical extinction spectrum spanning the UV, visible, and near infrared regions (300-1300 nm). This unexpected property makes the AuNR-AuNP dimer example useful for many nanophotonic applications. In two experiments, the dimer example was tested as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and a solar light harvester for photothermal conversion, in comparison with the mixture of AuNR and AuNP. In the SERS experiment, the dimer example showed an enhancement factor about 10 times higher than that of the mixture, when the excitation wavelength (660 nm) was off the two surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands of the mixture. In the photothermal conversion experiment under simulated sunlight illumination, the dimer example exhibited an energy conversion efficiency about 1.4 times as high as that of the mixture.

Briefly, embodiments of systems and/or methods for synthesis of zinc oxide are described, including a chamber enclosure, a wafer substrate holder, a fluid handling system, and sequences for implementation.

Briefly, embodiments of systems and/or methods for synthesis of zinc oxide are described, including a chamber enclosure, a wafer substrate holder, a fluid handling system, and sequences for implementation.

A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.

A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.

In an embodiment, a system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a feedstock, and a laser. The three-dimensional printer includes a platen including an inert metal, and an enclosure including an inert atmosphere. The feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The feedstock includes a halogenated solution and a nanoparticle having negative electron affinity. The laser is configured to induce the nanoparticle to emit solvated electrons into the halogenated solution to form, by reduction, a ceramic and a diatomic halogen.

In an embodiment, a system includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer, a feedstock, and a laser. The three-dimensional printer includes a platen including an inert metal, and an enclosure including an inert atmosphere. The feedstock is configured to be deposited onto the platen. The feedstock includes a halogenated solution and a nanoparticle having negative electron affinity. The laser is configured to induce the nanoparticle to emit solvated electrons into the halogenated solution to form, by reduction, a ceramic and a diatomic halogen.

Disclosed herein is a mixed-valence crystal superstructure assembled from a 2:1 host-guest inclusion complex. The complex comprises an aromatic guest encircled by two macrocycles, wherein the complex has an empirical charge greater than 0 and less than 1. Methods of preparing the compositions described herein are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a mixed-valence crystal superstructure assembled from a 2:1 host-guest inclusion complex. The complex comprises an aromatic guest encircled by two macrocycles, wherein the complex has an empirical charge greater than 0 and less than 1. Methods of preparing the compositions described herein are also disclosed.

Nanodiamonds are grown under conditions where diamond-like organic seed molecules do not decompose. This permits engineered growth of fluorescent nanodiamonds wherein a custom designed seed molecule can be incorporated at the center of a nanodiamond. By substituting atoms at particular locations in the seed molecule it is possible to achieve complex multi-atom diamond color centers or even to engineer complete quantum registers. In addition, it is possible to grow ultra-small nanodiamonds, wherein each nanodiamond, no matter how small, can have at least one bright and photostable fluorescent emitter.