Silicon Quantum Dot

Silicon (Si) is abundant in nature and is the mainstay of the semiconductor industry. It is considered non-toxic and biologically benign. Under a certain size, silicon nanomaterials exhibit interesting optoelectronic properties owing to the quantum confinement of charge carriers and these nanomaterials become known as silicon quantum dots (SiQDs).

The non-toxic nature of SiQDs makes them an enticing alternative to  existing semiconducting quantum dots in the marketplace (e.g., cadmium, lead and indium-based materials), which either contain toxic or scarce metals.

Using proprietary preparative and functionalization methods, AQM produces high purity SiQDs (from 2 nm to 9 nm) with different surface modifications. With the variation of size and surface functionalities, these quantum dots can be made to emit light (under photoexcitation) across the visible and near-infrared spectra with high quantum yield. By using different surface functional groups, these quantum dots can be dispersed in a variety of organic solvents for thin-film device fabrication (e.g., displays and sensors) and in water for biological imaging and drug delivery.

Quantum dots represent the next wave of the semiconductor revolution. Their vast utility is, in part because of their tailorable size-dependent optical and chemical response. Because the material science can be manipulated, a variety of devices can be made. QDs have great potential as light-emitting materials for next-generation displays with highly saturated colors because of their sharp spectral resolution, high quantum efficiency and wavelength stability. Because QDs also convert light to current, they can be used as next-generation devices and systems including solar cells, photodetectors and sensors.

Once the SiQDs have been prepared and incorporated into different polymers, our dots are highly stable (brightness and quantum yield) under challenging environments such as high temperatures and moisture exposure. SiQDs are poised to revolutionize markets ranging from energy conversion and storage to medical diagnostics and treatment.

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Using “solution” processing techniques, liquids, solids, powders and films of the material can be prepared. This allows for conveying the novel tunability of SiQDs absorption/emission spectra into a wide variety of everyday products.