The invention is directed to a method for producing non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, the method comprising: (a) subjecting a combination of reaction components to conditions conducive to microbially-mediated formation of non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein said combination of reaction components comprises i) anaerobic microbes, ii) a culture medium suitable for sustaining said anaerobic microbes, iii) a metal component comprising at least one type of metal ion, iv) a non-metal component comprising at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and As, and v) one or more electron donors that provide donatable electrons to said anaerobic microbes during consumption of the electron donor by said anaerobic microbes; and (b) isolating said non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticles, which contain at least one of said metal ions and at least one of said non-metals. The invention is also directed to non-oxide semiconductor nanoparticle compositions produced as above and having distinctive properties.

This disclosure provides an optical parametric oscillator, comprising, in a light path, a first lens, a laser crystal, a second lens, a nonlinear optical crystal, and a third lens in this order, wherein an optical parametric oscillation chamber is formed between the second lens and the third lens, and the nonlinear optical crystal is a monoclinic Ga.sub.2S.sub.3 crystal, the space group of the monoclinic Ga.sub.2S.sub.3 crystal is Cc, and the unit cell parameters are a=11.1 Å, b=6.4 Å, c=7.0 Å, α=90°, β=121°, γ=90°, and Z=4.

Monodisperse particles having: a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology are disclosed. Due to their uniform size and shape, the monodisperse particles self assemble into superlattices. The particles may be luminescent particles such as down-converting phosphor particles and up-converting phosphors. The monodisperse particles of the invention have a rare earth-containing lattice which in one embodiment may be an yttrium-containing lattice or in another may be a lanthanide-containing lattice. The monodisperse particles may have different optical properties based on their composition, their size, and/or their morphology (or shape). Also disclosed is a combination of at least two types of monodisperse particles, where each type is a plurality of monodisperse particles having a single pure crystalline phase of a rare earth-containing lattice, a uniform three-dimensional size, and a uniform polyhedral morphology; and where the types of monodisperse particles differ from one another by composition, by size, or by morphology. In a preferred embodiment, the types of monodisperse particles have the same composition but different morphologies. Methods of making and methods of using the monodisperse particles are disclosed.

An oxynitride phosphor powder contains α-SiAlON and aluminum nitride, obtained by mixing a silicon source, an aluminum source, a calcium source, and a europium source to produce a composition represented by a compositional formula: Ca.sub.x1Eu.sub.x2Si.sub.12−(y+z)Al.sub.(y+z)O.sub.zN.sub.16−z (wherein x1, x2, y and z are 0<x1≦3.40, 0.05≦x2≦0.20, 4.0≦y≦7.0, and 0≦z≦1), and firing the mixture.

New methods and assays for multiplexed detection of analytes using phosphors that are uniform in morphology, size, and composition based on their unique optical lifetime signatures are described herein. The described assays and methods can be used for imaging or detection of multiple unique chemical or biological markers simultaneously in a single assay readout.

Novel colored compounds with a hibonite structure and a method for making the same are disclosed. The compounds may have a formula AAl.sub.12−x−yM.sup.a.sub.xM.sup.b.sub.yO.sub.19 where A is typically an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, Pb, Bi or any combination thereof, and M.sup.a is Ni, Fe, Cu, Cr, V, Mn, or Co or any combination thereof, and M.sup.b is Ti, Sn, Ge, Si, Zr, Hf, Ga, In, Zn, Mg, Nb, Ta, Sb, Mo, W or Te or any combination thereof. Compounds with varying colors, such as blue, can be made by varying A, M.sup.a and M.sup.b and their relative amounts. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for making and using the same are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are multifunctional nanoparticle compositions. The compositions can be useful for the treatment of cancer by enhancing the anti-tumor effectiveness of radiation directed to a tissue, cell or a tumor and the methods of use thereof. The multifunctional nanoparticle composition comprises a metal oxide nanoparticle core; a functional coating on the surface of the metal oxide nanoparticle core; and a matrix carrier in which the coated nanoparticle is embedded.

A method of producing a product inorganic compound including: immersing a raw material inorganic compound having a volume of 10.sup.−13 m.sup.3 or more in an electrolyte aqueous solution or an electrolyte suspension; exchanging anions in the raw material inorganic compound with anions in the electrolyte aqueous solution or the electrolyte suspension; cations in the raw material inorganic compound are exchanged with cations in the electrolyte aqueous solution or the electrolyte suspension; or including a component (that excludes water, hydrogen, and oxygen) in the electrolyte aqueous solution or the electrolyte suspension not included in the raw material inorganic compound in the raw material inorganic compound; and obtaining a product inorganic compound having a volume of 10.sup.−13 m.sup.3 or more from the raw material inorganic compound.

A system for manufacturing a nanomaterial may include a first electrode; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode by a gap; and a chamber configured to enclose the first electrode, the second electrode, and a liquid. The system may also include a power supply configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode; and a pump configured to cause the liquid to flow through the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, substrates including the vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix, and related methods of making vanadium oxide nanomaterials dispersed in a polymeric matrix are described.