Nanoparticles Synthesis

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Method for Efficient and Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles This invention introduces a method to efficiently synthesize semiconductive nanoparticles with customizable optical properties in an aqueous environment. The nanoparticles are synthesized using a microwave-mediated hydrothermal processing that allows for precisely-defined and automated heating conditions. Technology Overview Nanomaterials have extensive applications in fields ranging anywhere from renewable energy to health care. Many of these applications require nanomaterials that are produced to have specific corresponding properties. However, traditional production techniques are limited in their capabilities to consistently produce nanomaterials with certain precisely-defined properties under environmentally friendly conditions. Additionally, these traditional techniques are labor intensive and expensive. In response to these restrictions, Syracuse University investigators have developed a efficient method to synthesize semiconductive nanoparticles under aqueous conditions using microwave irradiation to achieve hydrothermal conditions. This method rapidly produces high quality nanoparticles with properties that can be tailored to fit a range of applications. Controlling the hydrothermal heating conditions through microwave irradiation allows for dramatically decreased reaction times (synthesis is achieved in only 2-10 minutes) and increased product yield. Hydrothermal reaction temperatures can also be precisely-defined with this heating method, allowing for production of nanoparticles with fine-tunable sizes and, thus, optical properties (the color of light that a nanoparticle emits corresponds to the particle’s size). Production under aqueous conditions allows the water-soluble nanoparticles to be directly and easily functionalized for biotechnology applications. Specifically, water-soluble nanoparticles have modifiable surfaces to which biomaterials can be easily attached, a modification required for a nanoparticle’s use in drug delivery, biosensing, and other biotechnology applications. Advantages Environmentally green and cost effective process Rapid nanoparticle production with high product yield and high quantum yield Fine-tunable products (e.g. light emission properties) Water-soluble products for better integration into biotechnology applications Automated and scalable Limitations no limitations available. Other Information Inventor: Mathew Maye, PhD, http://chemistry.syr.edu/faculty/maye.html Suggested Uses Drug delivery & imaging (e.g. multimodality) Biomedical imaging, biosensing (e.g. disease reporting) Energy conversion (e.g. solar energy cells) Lighting (e.g. LEDs) Development Stage academic research Technology Sectors Biotechnology Health and Safety Nanotechnology Imaging Process/Procedure Drug Delivery Chemicals Energy Materials Tags energy innovation File Number 100623 IP Protection no associated IP specified Publications no available publications specified