Field of Expertise
Silicon and inorganic based nanomaterials
Expertise
Applied Quantum Materials Inc. (AQM) is a pioneer in the design, synthesis, and integration of silicon nanomaterials into industrial applications. AQM is an ISO 9001 certified company with over 250 customers across 26 countries. Nanomaterials, such as AQM’s commercial silicon quantum dots (QDs) and other luminescent probes, can be used for imaging and tracking cells as they are photostable, of nanoscale dimensions, and have exquisitely tunable surface chemistry [6,7,8]. Contrary to most commercially available QDs that are composed of toxic heavy metals, AQM’s silicon QDs are biocompatible and non-toxic. AQM has designed and manufactured sensing materials for an array of analytes (e.g., biological amines, viruses, explosives, nerve agents, etc.) by altering the surface chemistry of their suite of non-toxic nanoparticles. Specifically, AQM has a product line of silica nanoparticles used for selective binding and extraction of nucleic acids. Further modification of the nanoparticle surface chemistry allows for sensing technology for detection of explosives. AQM has developed a convenient, cost-effective, paper-based sensor that provides rapid, straight-forward detection trace explosive residues at surface concentrations as low as 5 ng for integration into border security systems. The AQM team has complimentary experience designing lateral flow assays and pathogenic bacterial testing.