U.S. patent application number 10/321278 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for ternary and quarternary nanocrystals, processes for their production and uses thereof.
Invention is credited to Mingyong Han, Wolfgang Knoll, Xinhua Zhong.
Application Number | 20060110279 10/321278 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32592911 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060110279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Han; Mingyong ; et
al. |
May 25, 2006 |
TERNARY AND QUARTERNARY NANOCRYSTALS, PROCESSES FOR THEIR
PRODUCTION AND USES THEREOF
Abstract
The present invention relates to nanocrystals consisting of a
homogeneous ternary or quaternary alloy having the composition
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA and M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y,
respectively, a process for its production, as well as to uses of
such nanocrystals such as as short wavelength light-emitting
devices, and in the detection of analytes, in particular
biomolecules.
Inventors: |
Han; Mingyong; (Singapore,
SG) ; Zhong; Xinhua; (Singapore, SG) ; Knoll;
Wolfgang; (Singapore, SG) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STOUT, UXA, BUYAN & MULLINS LLP
4 VENTURE, SUITE 300
IRVINE
CA
92618
US
|
Family ID: |
32592911 |
Appl. No.: |
10/321278 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
420/523 ;
420/525; 420/579; 436/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C30B 29/605 20130101;
C30B 29/48 20130101; C30B 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
420/523 ;
420/525; 420/579; 436/081 |
International
Class: |
C22C 18/00 20060101
C22C018/00 |
Claims
1. A nanocrystal consisting of a homogeneous ternary alloy having
the composition selected from the group consisting of
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe and Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS, obtainable by a
process comprising i) forming a binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS by
heating a reaction mixture containing the element Cd in a form
suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal to a suitable
temperature T1, adding at this temperature the element Se or S in a
form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal, heating the
reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time at a temperature
suitable for forming said binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS and then
allowing the reaction mixture to cool, and ii) reheating the
reaction mixture, without precipitating or isolating the formed
binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS, to a suitable temperature T2,
adding to the reaction mixture at this temperature a sufficient
quantity of the element Zn in a form suitable for the generation of
a nanocrystal, then heating the reaction mixture for a sufficient
period of time at a temperature suitable for forming said ternary
nanocrystal Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe or Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS and then
allowing the reaction mixture to cool to room temperature, and
isolating the ternary nanocrystal Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe or
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS.
2. The nanocrystal of claim 1 with 0.001<x<0.999.
3. The nanocrystal of claim 2 with 0.5<x<0.95.
4-6. (canceled)
7. The nanocrystal of claim 1 with 0.15<x<0.85.
8. The nanocrystal of claim 7 with 0.2<x<0.8.
9-41. (canceled)
42. The nanocrystal of claim 1 incorporated into a plastic
bead.
43. (canceled)
44. A detection kit containing a nanocrystal as defined in claim
1.
45. (canceled)
46-50. (canceled)
51. A process of producing a nanocrystal consisting of a
homogeneous ternary alloy having the composition selected from the
group consisting of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe and Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS,
said process comprising i) forming a binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS
by heating a reaction mixture containing the element Cd in a form
suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal to a suitable
temperature T1, adding at this temperature the element Se or S in a
form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal, heating the
reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time at a temperature
suitable for forming said binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS and then
allowing the reaction mixture to cool, and ii) reheating the
reaction mixture, without precipitating or isolating the formed
binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS, to a suitable temperature T2,
adding to the reaction mixture at this temperature a sufficient
quantity of the element Zn in a form suitable for the generation of
a nanocrystal, then heating the reaction mixture for a sufficient
period of time at a temperature suitable for forming said ternary
nanocrystal Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe or Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS and then
allowing the reaction mixture to cool to room temperature, and
isolating the ternary nanocrystal Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe or
52. The process of claim 51, wherein the reaction mixture in i) is
allowed to cool to a temperature below 100.degree. C. after
formation of the binary nanocrystal CdSe or CdS.
53. The process of claim 51 with 0.001<x<0.999.
54. The process of claim 53 with 0.1<x<0.95.
55. The process of claim 51, wherein the homogeneous ternary alloy
has the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe.
56. The process of claim 51 with 0.15<x<0.85.
57. The process of claim 56 with 0.2<x<0.8.
58. The process of claim 51, wherein the reaction mixture in i) is
heated to a temperature T1 between 150.degree. C. and 400.degree.
C.
59. The process of claim 51, wherein the reaction mixture in ii) is
heated to a temperature T2 between 200.degree. C. and 400.degree.
C.
60. The process of claim 51, wherein in ii) a second quantity of
the element Se or S is added for the formation of the ternary
nanocrystal.
61. The process of claim 51, wherein the homogeneous ternary alloy
has the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS.
62. A process for detecting an analyte, comprising contacting an
analyte with a molecule having a binding affinity for the analyte,
the molecule being conjugated to the nanocrystal of claim 1.
63. The nanocrystal of claim 1, wherein the homogenous tenary alloy
has the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe.
64. The nanocrystal of claim 1, wherein the homogenous ternary
alloy has the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS.
65. The nanocrystal of claim 1 conjagated to molecule having a
binding affinity for a given analyte.
66. The nanocrystal of claim 65, wherein the molecule having a
binding affinity for a given analyte has a binding affinity to a
biomolecule.
67. The nanocrystal of claim 66, wherein the molecule having a
binding affinity for an analyte is a molecule selected from the
group consisting of a protein, a peptide, a compound having
features of an immunogenic hapten, a nucleic acid, a carbohydrate,
and an organic molecule.
68. The nanocrystal of claim 67, wherein the nanocrystal is
conjugated to said molecule having a binding activity for an
analyte via a linking agent.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to nanocrystals consisting of
a homogeneous ternary or quaternary alloy having the composition
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA and M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y,
respectively; processes for their production; as well as uses of
such nanocrystals, including but not limited to short wavelength
light-emitting devices, and the detection of analytes, in
particular biomolecules. The present invention also relates to
compositions and kits containing such nanocrystals which can be
used in the detection of analytes such as nucleic acids, proteins
or other biomolecules, and in various analytical and biomedical
applications such as visualization of biological materials or
processes, e.g., in tissue or cell imaging, in vitro or in
vivo.
[0002] Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) have been
receiving great fundamental and technical interest for their use in
light-emitting devices (Colvin et al, Nature 370, 354-357, 1994;
Tessler et al, Science 295, 1506-1508, 2002), lasers (Klimov et al,
Science 290, 314-317, 2000), solar cells (Huynh et al, Science 295,
2425-2427, 2002) or as fluorescent biological labels in biochemical
research areas such as cell biology. See for example, Bruchez et
al, Science, Vol. 281, pages 2013-2015, 2001; Chan & Nie,
Science, Vol. 281, pages 2016-2018, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,392,
summarized in Klarreich, Nature, Vol. 43, pages 450-452, 2001; see
also Mitchell, Nature Biotechnology, pages 1013-1017, 2001, and
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,423,551, 6,306,610, and 6,326,144.
[0003] The primary reason for the interest in these II-VI
semiconductor nanocrystals is their size-tunable photoluminescence
(PL) emission spanning the whole visible spectrum. A single light
source can be used for simultaneous excitation of all
different-sized dots, and their emission wavelength can be
continuously tuned by changing the particle size. Together with
their ability to be conjugated to biomolecules such as proteins or
nucleic acids, this photoluminescence makes them attractive
alternatives for organic fluorescent dyes classically used in
biomedical applications. With well-established high-temperature
organometallic synthetic methods (Murray et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc.
115, 8706-8715 1993), CdSe nanocrystals have become the most
extensively investigated quantum dots (QD) because of their
size-tunable photoluminescence (PL) across the visible
spectrum.
[0004] Major problems encountered over the years in making
high-quality quantum dots are associated with materials issues. In
particular, there has been a tendency to form defects and
surface-trap states under growth conditions, resulting in low
luminescence and stability. Surface-passivation of the CdSe
nanocrystals with suitable organic or inorganic materials can
minimize this problem by removing the nonradiative recombination
centers. The best PL quantum yield reported for CdSe QDs can reach
over 50% in the wavelength window above 520 nm, but the efficiency
for the blue window is still low (Hines et al, J. Phys. Chem. 100,
468-471 (1996); Peng et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119, 7019-7029
(1997); Dabbousi et al, J. Phys. Chem. B 101, 9463-9475 (1997);
Talapin et al, Nanolett. 1, 207-211 (2001); Qu et al, J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 124, 2049-2055 (2002) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,901 B1).
[0005] For inorganic passivation, these nanocrystals have a
so-called core-shell structure or capped structure, consisting
usually of a core made of semiconducting cadmium selenide, which is
coated with an (insulating) (wider band gap semiconductor)
inorganic outer shell, usually made of zinc sulfide or cadmium
sulfide (FIG. 7, cf. also FIG. 1 of Chan & Nie, supra).
[0006] By this approach, i.e. passivating the surface of the
cadmium selenide nanocrystal by an insulating outer shell, the
excitons used to create the photoluminescence can be confined to
this core, which reduces--among other effects--the tendency of the
CdSe nanocrystals to form defects under growth conditions, and
photochemical degradation, thereby leading to improved emission
efficiencies and stabilities. The use of this core shell structure
is also considered to be advantageous over the second method used
so far for passivation of the surface of a nanocrystal, which is
the passivation of the semiconductor surface with organic
materials. The latter method, described for instance in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,426,513 and 6,444,143, yields insufficient passivated
nanoparticles that are lower luminescent in aqueous solutions and
which thus render such coated nanoparticles unsuitable for most
biological applications (Chan & Nie, supra).
[0007] Furthermore, organic passivation is often incomplete or
reversible. The luminescence of organically passivated CdSe
nanocrystals will dramatically decrease when capping materials such
as alkylamine or trioctylphosphine oxide are displaced to make them
water-soluble. This greatly limits their functionality in
biomedical labeling application.
[0008] Effective inorganic-passivation, analogous to the growth of
2D quantum wells, can form more robust core-shell structured QDs
(such as CdSe/ZnS and CdSe/CdS) against chemical degradation or
photooxidation than the organic-coated QDs ((Hines et al, J. Phys.
Chem. 100, 468-471 (1996); Peng et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119,
7019-7029 (1997); Dabbousi et al, J. Phys. Chem. B 101, 9463-9475
(1997)). However, large lattice mismatch between core and shell
structures leads to the accumulation of interface strain that can
dramatically increase with shell thickness. Eventually such strain
can be released through the formation of misfit dislocations that
degrade optical properties.
[0009] However, despite the improvements they have provided, these
core-shell structured CdSe nanoparticles still show an insufficient
long-term stability and thus also insufficient luminescence in
aqueous solution. Furthermore, no economical way has been found to
mass-produce such nanoparticles. Consequently, it remains a major
goal to develop new synthetic methods or strategies of producing
highly luminescent stable QDs in general, especially those that are
blue-emitting.
[0010] Summarizing the above results, in the last two decades the
focus has been on the preparation of different color-emitting QDs
with different particle sizes. An alternative approach is to make
different color-emitting QDs through control of metal
stoichiometries in alloyed QDs. Although bulk or thin film
semiconductor alloys have been extensively investigated due to
their wide application in optoelectronics, only a limited number of
studies have been reported for the preparation of null dimensional
("OD") colloidal alloy nanocrystals with poor PL properties by
co-precipitation or slow diffusion of their constituents in wet
chemistry routes (Korgel et al, Langmuir 16, 3588-3594 (2000);
Petrov et al, J. Phys. Chem. B 106, 5325-5334 (2002); Harrison et
al, Mat. Sci. Eng. B 69, 355-360 (2000)).
[0011] First, several scientific studies exist on ternary quantum
wells or quantum dots which were not by wet-chemistry approaches.
Seedorf et al, Journal of Crystal Growth 214/215, pages 602-605
(2000) report on a study of molecular beam and migration-enhanced
epitaxy of ZnCdSe quantum wells. In this study, heterostructures
are described consisting of a single ZnCdSe quantum well embedded
between a 500 nm thick lattice matched Zn.sub.0.06S.sub.0.94Se
buffer layer and a 50 nm thick Zn.sub.0.06S.sub.0.94Se cap layer,
wherein both layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Shan et
al, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B 20, pages 1102-1106
(2002) report growth and evolution of ZnCdSe quantum dots on GaAs
(100) substrates by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition.
[0012] Several nanoalloys prepared by these chemical approaches are
listed as follows to show their weak P1 properties. Harrison et al,
Materials Science and Engineering B69-70, pages 355-360 (2000)
describe the chemical synthesis of CdHgTe nanocrystals. The
crystals were obtained using a wet-chemical synthesis colloidal
technique using CdTe nanocrystal precursors stabilized with
1-mercapto,2-3-propanediol to which subsequent layers of HgTe and
CdTe were added. According to Harrison et al., CdTe/HgTe core/shell
nanocrystals, as well as a CdHgTe system which seemed to be a solid
solution with perhaps a concentration gradient across the "radius"
of the particle, were formed.
[0013] Finally, Korgel and Monbouquette, Langmuir (2000), pages
3588-3594, describe the synthesis of mixed core and layered
(Zn,Cd)S and (Hg,Cd)S nanocrystals within phosphatidylcholine
vesicles. According to the authors, these nanocrystals were
obtained by two approaches. The first was coprecitation of two
different cation species within the phosphatidylcholine vesicle to
obtain particles with mixed core compositions. The second one was
first synthesized as a pure CdSe nanocrystal within the vesicle
interior which was to serve as a template to grow an outer shell of
either HgS or ZnS. The mixed core compositions are reported to have
stochiometries of Zn.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS and Hg.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS with
y having values between y=0.14 and 0.61 in the Zn.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS
system, and y=0.0025 and 0.75 in the Hg.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS system.
According to the authors, such mixed core compositions were not
observed to agglomerate immediately after micellization, which was
carried out for the optical characterization. However, if the
dispersion was allowed to sit for several hours, the size
distribution appeared to broaden, indicating an instability of the
core compositions.
[0014] Moreover, Wang et al., Chemistry of Materials (2002) 14,
pages 3028-3033, describe another preparation of
Cd.sub.xZn.sub.1-xS by co-precipitating ZnCl.sub.2 and CdCl.sub.2
in ethanol solution containing KBH.sub.4 and CS.sub.2 at room
temperature. According to the authors, KBH.sub.4 serves as a
reducing agent which reduces elemental S first to S.sup.2-, which
can then react with Cd.sup.2+ or Zn.sup.2+ to form CdS or ZnS. The
reaction is said to be rather dependent on the particular solvent
used therein, since the critical role played by the solvent,
according to Wang et al., is to complex Zn.sup.2+ or Cd.sup.2+ in
order to prevent reduction of the metal ions by KBH.sub.4.
[0015] So far quantum dots have not been successfully prepared
having a narrow size distribution, good crystallinity, high
luminescence efficiency and at the same time narrow, symmetric
emission spectra and a good stability. Rather, known quantum dots
or nanoalloys have only very weak luminescence with very broad and
unsymmetrical emission peak shape.
[0016] Therefore, there is still the necessity for nanocrystals
with high luminescence and stability in aqueous solution, that are
also easy to produce. There also remains the need for blue-emitting
quantum dots which are useful as short-wavelength light-emitting
devices. Consequently, it also remains a major goal to develop new
synthetic methods or strategies of producing highly luminescent
stable QDs, especially blue-emitting ones.
[0017] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome
the limitations of the prior art and to provide nanocrystals that
meet the above needs.
[0018] This object is solved by the nanocrystals and the processes
of producing nanocrystals having the features of the respective
independent claims.
[0019] In one embodiment such a nanocrystal is a nanocrystal
consisting of a homogeneous ternary alloy having the composition
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA, wherein a) M1 and M2 are independently
selected from an element of the subgroup IIb, subgroup VIIa,
subgroup VIIIa, subgroup Ib or main group II of the periodic system
of the elements (PSE), when A represents an element of the main
group VI of the PSE, or b) M1 and M2 are independently selected
from an element of the main group (III) of the PSE, when A
represents an element of the main group (V) of the PSE.
[0020] This nanocrystal is obtainable by a process comprising
[0021] i) forming a binary nanocrystal M1A by heating a reaction
mixture containing the element M1 in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal to a suitable temperature T1, adding at
this temperature the element A in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal, heating the reaction mixture for a
sufficient period of time at a temperature suitable for forming
said binary nanocrystal M1A and then allowing the reaction mixture
to cool, and
[0022] ii) reheating the reaction mixture, without precipitating or
isolating the formed binary nanocrystal M1A, to a suitable
temperature T2, adding to the reaction mixture at this temperature
a sufficient quantity of the element M2 in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal, then heating the reaction mixture for
a sufficient period of time at a temperature suitable for forming
said ternary nanocrystal M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA and then allowing the
reaction mixture to cool to room temperature, and isolating the
ternary nanocrystal M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.
[0023] Alternatively the following procedure in i) can be: forming
a binary nanocrystal M1A by heating a reaction medium (or a mixture
of media) in a form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal to
a suitable temperature T1, adding at this temperature the element
M1 and A in a form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal,
heating the reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time at a
temperature suitable for forming said binary nanocrystal M1A and
then allowing the reaction mixture to cool. Step ii) is then
carried out as above.
[0024] Yet another version of step i) is: forming a binary
nanocrystal M1A by heating a reaction mixture containing the
element A in a form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal to
a suitable temperature T1, adding at this temperature the element
M1 in a form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal, heating
the reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time at a
temperature suitable for forming said binary nanocrystal M1A and
then allowing the reaction mixture to cool. In this alternative,
step ii) is then carried out as stated above.
[0025] Besides the above described process that comprises two
separate steps in the synthesis of a ternary nanocrystal (which are
also referred to as nanoalloys), which can also be considered as a
"quasi-one-pot reaction", cf. Example 1, the nanocrystal of the
invention is also obtainable by a "one-pot-reaction". This second
process comprises:
[0026] i) providing a reaction mixture containing the elements M1,
M2 and A each in a form suitable for the generation of a
nanocrystal,
[0027] ii) heating the reaction mixture for a sufficient period of
time at a temperature suitable for forming said ternary nanocrystal
M1M2A and then allowing the reaction mixture to cool, and
iii) isolating the ternary nanocrystal M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.
[0028] When using a reaction mixture comprising not only one
element A but a mixture of several suitable elements, the above
"one-pot-reaction" provides an easy and elegant way to form
quarternary nanoalloys of the general formula
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y. Accordingly, the present
invention is also directed to a nanocrystal consisting of a
homogeneous quarternary alloy having the composition
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y, wherein
[0029] a) M1 and M2 are independently selected from an element of
subgroup IIb, subgroup VIIa, subgroup VIIIa, subgroup Ib or main
group II of the periodic system of the elements (PSE), when A and B
both represent an element of the main group VI of the PSE, or
[0030] b) M1 and M2 are independently selected from an element of
the main group (III) of the PSE, when A and B both represent an
element of the main group (V) of the PSE.
[0031] In preferred embodiments of the ternary as well as the
quarternary nanoalloys of the invention, M1 and M2 are
independently selected from the elements of the subgroup IIb, i.e.
Zn, Cd or Hg. In case an element is of subgroup VIIa (Mn, Tc, Re),
the element is preferably Mn. Elements of subgroup VIIIa which are
preferably present in the nanocrystals of the invention are Fe, Co
and Ni. From the subgroup Ib all elements, i.e. Cu, Ag and Au are
equally preferred. In one embodiment of the quarternary
nanocrystals, M1 and M2 are selected from the same (sub)group of
the PSE. Preferred elements of the main group II in the
nanocrystals of the invention are Mg, Ca and Ba.
[0032] As can be taken from the above disclosure, the invention is
based on the surprising finding of the inventors that, when making
use of the "quasi-one-pot reaction", omitting the step of
precipitating binary nanocrystals such as CdSe or CdS in the
standard synthesis by a reagent such as anhydrous methanol (see,
for example, Murray et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115, 8706-8715 (1993)
or Peng et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119, 7019-7029 (1997)) renders
binary nanocrystals of the so-called group II-VI nanocrystals and
the group III-V nanocrystals suitable for forming a ternary alloy
in the second reaction step. Accordingly, as it can be seen from
the second method of the present invention, the process of the
invention for making a ternary nanocrystal (which can also be
called nanoalloys) can be carried out as a one pot reaction
contrary to methods known for the preparation of the common
core-shell nanocrystals. Without being bound by theory, the
inventors believe that the precipitation step in the standard
synthesis of these binary nanocrystals leads to modifications of
the surface of the synthesized nanocrystals which prevent the
formation of a ternary alloy (cf. Example 1).
[0033] The inventors have surprisingly further found that the
ternary or quaternary nanocrystals of the invention have many
advantages compared to core-shell nanocrystals. First, with the
alloyed ternary nanocrystals in particular, as well as with others,
blue-emitting quantum dots are much more stable than core-shell
structures and can be stored in aqueous solutions for more than
five months without observing changes in the photoluminescence
emission. Second, the ternary or quarternary nanocrystals or
nanoalloys are also chemically more stable and can undergo heat
treatment at elevated temperatures such as 80.degree. C. in
air-saturated aqueous solution for even two days without any shift
in the emission maximum or without significant decrease of the
photoluminescence yield (cf. Example 4, FIG. 5). Third, the size of
the nanocrystals disclosed here can be tuned quite exactly by
varying the ratio of the elements M1 and M2 in the ternary or
quarternary alloy, meaning that the optical properties, in
particular the emission spectrum, can also be adjusted very
accurately within the desired range. Fourth, and most surprisingly,
distinct from core-shell nanocrystals, the absorption and emission
maximum of which are shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing
particle size (i.e. a so-called red-shift occurs), the absorption
and emission maximum of the ternary and quaternary nanocrystals of
the invention can be shifted to shorter wavelengths (i.e. a
so-called blue-shift occurs). This means the nanoalloys of the
present invention usually have a bigger size than core-shell or
non-passivated binary nanocrystals. This increased size leads in
turn to an increased stability which is advantageous for many
practical applications, exemplified by, but not limited to the
following. A ternary nanocrystal of the invention with the
composition Zn.sub.0.67Cd.sub.0.33Se that emits blue light has a
diameter of 7.2 nm, whereas the corresponding CdSe nanocrystal
having a ZnSe shell emitting blue light has a diameter of .about.2
nm, i.e. is about three times smaller than the ternary nanocrystals
disclosed here. Blue-emitting in more short emission wavelengths
will have relative larger nanoalloys.
[0034] These properties render the nanoalloys of the invention
ideal materials for a new class of fluorescent biomedical
labels/tags, providing unique properties that are not possible with
organic dye probes or probes based on core-shell nanocrystals for
ultrasensitive, multicolor, and multiplexing applications. In
particular, these properties include but are not limited to
size-tunable emission, simultaneous excitation, high stability, and
narrow and symmetric emission. The highly luminescent stable
nanoalloys, in particular those that are blue-emitting, are ideal
materials for short-wavelength light-emitting devices and quantum
dot lasers, which could solve problems occurring in the promising,
but highly strained, Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe/ZnSe quantum-well
structures. These nanoalloys are also a new class of biomedical
labels for ultra-sensitive, multicolor, and multiplexing
applications.
[0035] As it can be seen from the properties of the nanocrystals of
the invention, they constitute a novel class of nanocrystals. This
holds true even for these ternary nanocrystals or nanoalloys of the
invention that may have the same stoichiometric composition as the
CdHgTe nanocrystals described by Harrison et al, supra (the
stoichiometry of which is not known) the Zn.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS system
(with y=0.14, 0.15, 0.25, 0.34, 0.44, 0.61) and Hg.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS
system (with y=0.0025, 0.005, 0.05, 0.01, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75) described
by Korgel and Monbouquette, supra, and the Cd.sub.xZn.sub.1-xS
(with x=0.95, 0.8, 0.72, 0.22, 0.10) nanoparticles described by
Wang. Accordingly, the CdHgTe nanocrystals described by Harrison et
al, and the Zn.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS and Hg.sub.yCd.sub.1-yS system
described by Korgel and Monbouquette and the Cd.sub.xZn.sub.1-xS
nanoparticles described by Wang do not belong to the present
invention.
[0036] In the ternary as well as the quaternary nanocrystals of the
present invention, the index x has a value of 0.001<x<0.999,
preferably of 0.1<x<0.99 or more preferred of
0.1<x<0.95. In even more preferred embodiments, x can have a
value between about 0.2 or about 0.3 to about 0.8 or about 0.9. In
the quarternary nanocrystals, y has a value of 0.001<y<0.999,
preferably of 0.01<y<0.99, or more preferably of
0.1<x<0.95 or between about 0.2 and about 0.8.
[0037] In the so-called II-VI nanocrystals of the present
invention, the elements M1 and M2 comprised therein are preferably
independently selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cd and Hg.
The element A of the group VI of the PSE in these ternary alloys is
preferably selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te.
Thus, all combinations of these elements M1, M2 and A are within
the scope of the invention. Preferred embodiments are nanoalloys
having the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe, Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS,
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xTe, Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe, Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xTe,
Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xS, Zn.sub.xHg.sub.1-xSe, Zn.sub.xHg.sub.1-xTe,
and Zn.sub.xHg.sub.1-xS.
[0038] In this respect, it is noted that the designation M1 and M2
can be used interchangeably throughout the present application, for
example in an alloy comprising Cd and Hg, either of which can be
named M1 or M2. Likewise, the designation A and B for elements of
group V or VI of the PSE are used interchangeably; thus in an
quaternary alloy of the invention Se or Te can both be named as
element A or B.
[0039] In particularly preferred embodiments, the nanocrystals of
the invention have the composition Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe. Such
nanocrystals are preferred in which x has a value of
0.15<x<0.85, and more preferably a value of
0.2<x<0.8.
[0040] In case of III-IV nanocrystals of the invention, the
elements M1 and M2 are preferably independently selected from Ga
and Indium. The element A is preferably selected from P, As and
Sb.
[0041] In the quaternary nanoalloys of the invention the same
elements are present. Examples of quaternary alloys are
Zn.sub.1-xCd.sub.xSe.sub.yTe.sub.1-y,
Zn.sub.1-xCd.sub.xSe.sub.yS.sub.1-y,
Hg.sub.1-xCd.sub.xSe.sub.yS.sub.1-y,
Hg.sub.1-xCd.sub.xSe.sub.yTe.sub.1-y. (II-VI-nanoalloys) or
Ga.sub.1-xIn.sub.xP.sub.yAs.sub.1-y (III-V-nanocrystals).
[0042] In the "quasi-one-pot-process" of the invention, the
reaction mixture is allowed to cool down or is actively cooled down
after formation of the binary nanocrystals M1A to any temperature
that is suitable for handling the reaction mixture for step ii. In
a preferred embodiment, the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to
a temperature below 100.degree. C., more preferably 50.degree. C.,
and most preferably to room temperature, which means about 20 to 25
.degree. C., or even below room temperature, after formation of the
binary nanocrystals M1A.
[0043] The reaction mixture in step i) of this process is heated to
a temperature T1 between about 150.degree. C. and about 400.degree.
C., preferably between about 260.degree. C. and about 340.degree.
C., or more preferably to about 310.degree. C. In step ii) of this
process the reaction mixture is heated to a temperature between
about 200.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C., preferably to a
temperature between about 270.degree. C. and about 310.degree. C.
Both of the steps are preferably carried out in a solution, and
usually under an inert atmosphere such as an argon, nitrogen,
helium or xenon atmosphere. In step ii) a second quantity of the
element A can be added for the formation of the ternary
nanocrystal, depending on the desired stoichiometry. The addition
of a second quantity of the element A (which can be present in a
suitable precursor) is usually considered if x is larger than about
0.4. In another version, the unreacted amount of A in the reaction
mixture can serve as the source of A needed for the formation of
the ternary nanocrystal. In this respect, it should be noted that
it is not necessary to exactly predetermine the needed amounts of
the different components. Rather, due to the fact that the
nanocrystals of the invention absorb and emit radiation in the near
UV to near infrared, and preferably in the visible range of the
electromagnetic spectrum, the reaction can be easily followed by
spectroscopic means. Therefore, the element A or M2 can be added in
excess, and once the nanocrystals in the reaction mixture emit at a
desired wavelength, the reaction can be stopped, for example by
cooling down the reaction mixture and/or precipitating the formed
tertiary or quarternary nanocrystals.
[0044] The heating phase in step ii) of the "quasi-one-pot"
reaction can thus be carried out for any time that is sufficient in
order to yield the desired composition. Usually, the step ii) is
carried out for a time period between about 2 and about 30 min,
preferably between about 10 and about 15 min.
[0045] The elements M1, M2, A and B can be used in the present
invention, i.e. in any of the methods disclosed here, in any form
that is suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal. Such forms,
which can are also called precursors or precursor molecules, are
known to the skilled person. Examples of the numerous suitable
forms of the elements M1 and M2 are organo-metallic compounds, for
example, alkylated compounds such an dimethylzinc (ZnMe.sub.2),
diethylzinc (ZnEt.sub.2), dimethylcadmium (CdMe.sub.2) or
dimethylmercury (HgMe.sub.2), or as salts or long chain alkyl
carboxylic acids such as cadmium stearate. The elements A and B can
be employed in the processes of the present invention in the form
of known phosphine compounds such as trioctylphosphine selenide
(TOPSe), and trioctylphosphine telluride (TOPTe). These precursors
can be synthesized and used as stock solutions or made in situ.
Suitable precursor molecules of M1, M2, A and B as defined here,
and the preparation thereof, are described in Murray et al., supra;
Cao and Banin, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122, pages 9692-9702, (2000); Peng
et al, supra, Dabboussi et al, J. Phys. Chem. B, 101, pages
9643-9475, (1997), or U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,901 for instance, the
contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0046] Since the methods of synthesis of the present invention are
insensitive to the solvent (contrasting, for example, to the method
of Wang et al., supra), a wealth of suitable high boiling point
solvents exist that can be used as reaction media in all of the
methods of the present invention. Among the different types of
solvents that can be used are alkyl phosphine/phosphine
oxide/phosphite/phosphate/amine/phosphonic acid/ether/alkane,
etc.
[0047] Specific examples of suitable solvents and solvent mixtures
include but are not limited to trioctylphosphine,
tributylphosphine, tri(dodecyl)phosphine, trioctylphosphine oxide,
trioctylphosphine oxide, trioctylphosphine oxide,
dibutyl-phosphite, tributyl phosphite, trioctadecyl phosphite,
trilauryl phosphite, tris(tridecyl) phosphite, triisodecyl
phosphite, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate, tris(tridecyl) phosphate,
hexadecylamine, oleylamine, octadecylamine, bis(2-ethylhexyl)amine,
octylamine, dioctylamine, trioctylamine, dodecylamine/laurylamine,
didodecylamine tridodecylamine, hexadecylamine, dioctadecylamine,
trioctadecylamine, phenylphosphonic acid, hexylphosphonic acid,
tetradecyl-phosphonic acid, octylphosphonic acid,
octadecylphosphonic acid, propylenediphosphonic acid,
phenylphosphonic acid, aminohexylphosphonic acid, dioctylether,
dioctyl ether/octyl ether, dodecyl ether, hexadecyl ether,
octadecyl and octadecene.
[0048] Turning to the one pot reaction of the present invention, as
stated above, this reaction comprises i) providing a reaction
mixture containing the elements M1, M2 and A, each in a form
suitable for the generation of nanocrystals, ii) heating the
reaction mixture for a sufficient period of time at a temperature
suitable for forming said ternary nanocrystals M1M2A and then
allowing the reaction mixture to cool, and iii) isolating the
ternary nanocrystals M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA. Accordingly, a reducing
agent such as KBH4, which is required in the process described by
Wang et al., supra, is not used in the present invention.
[0049] In one embodiment of this one-pot-process, the reaction
mixture in i) is formed by preparing a solution containing one of
the two elements M1 or M2 in a form suitable for the generation of
a nanocrystal, heating the solution for a suitable time, then
adding to the solution the element A in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal, and then adding the other of the two
elements M1 or M2 in a form suitable for the generation of a
nanocrystal. It is also possible that the solution contains none of
the element M1 or M2 before the addition of A.
[0050] In a preferred form of this embodiment, the following
reaction scheme is chosen. First, M1 (or M2) is reacted with A,
then a sufficient amount of each of the other element M2 (if M1 was
added first) and of element A (both in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal) is added and then the resulting
reaction mixture is subjected to the heating in ii). The entire
reaction is, as are the other solvent based methods of the
invention, preferably carried out in a high boiling solvent or a
mixture of such solvents.
[0051] For example, a solution of cadmium stearate can first be
prepared to which trioctylphosphine is added, and this solution is
then heated. Then, a selenium dissolved in trioctylphosphine and
then a diethylzinc containing solution is added in order to
complete the reaction mixture. (cf. Example 1.2)
[0052] In a further embodiment of this one-pot-process the reaction
mixture in step i) is formed by preparing a solution containing the
element A in a form suitable for the generation of a nanocrystal,
heating the solution for a suitable time, then adding to this
solution the two elements M1 or M2 in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal.
[0053] For instance, selenium can be dissolved in a first step in
trioctylphosphine and hexylamine as solvent, and then heated (cf.
Example 1.3). To this solution dimethylcadmium and diethylzinc are
then added, creating the reaction mixture that is then used for
synthesis of the nanoalloy of the invention.
[0054] The solution in step i) containing either one of the
elements M1 or M2 or the element A is preferably heated to a
temperature between about 260.degree. C. and about 340.degree. C.
However, it should be noted that if a solvent with lower boiling
point is used, the inventive processes disclosed here can also be
carried out at a lower temperature, as long as the desired
nanocrystals are obtained.
[0055] In the step ii) of the one pot process, the reaction mixture
is usually heated to a temperature between about 260.degree. C. and
about 340.degree. C., preferably to a temperature between about
270.degree. C. and about 340.degree. C., and most preferably to a
temperature of about 310.degree. C.
[0056] The entire reaction, comprising steps I) and ii), are
usually carried out in an inert atmosphere, wherein the same inert
atmosphere as in the "quasi-one-pot reaction" described above can
be used.
[0057] In addition, the present invention also refers to processes
of producing a nanocrystal consisting of a homogeneous quarternary
alloy having the composition M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y
with 0.001<x<0.999 and 0.001<y<0.999, wherein
[0058] a) M1 and M2 are independently selected from an element of
the subgroup IIb, subgroup VIIa, subgroup VIIIa, subgroup Ib or
main group II of the periodic system of the elements (PSE), when A
and B both represent an element of the main group VI of the PSE,
or
[0059] b) M1 and M2 are independently both selected from an element
of the main group (III) of the PSE, when A and B both represent an
element of the main group (V) of the PSE,
[0060] A first process comprises
[0061] i) providing a reaction mixture containing the elements M1,
M2, A and B each in a form suitable for the generation of
nanocrystals,
[0062] ii) heating the reaction mixture for a sufficient period of
time at a temperature suitable for forming said quarternary
nanocrystals M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y and then allowing
the reaction mixture to cool, and
[0063] iii) isolating the quarternary nanocrystal
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y.
[0064] A second process comprises
[0065] i) forming a ternary nanocrystal M1AB by heating a reaction
mixture containing the element M1 in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal to a suitable temperature T1, adding at
this temperature the elements A and B in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal, heating the reaction mixture for a
sufficient period of time at a temperature suitable for forming
said ternary nanocrystal M1AB and then allowing the reaction
mixture to cool and
[0066] ii) reheating the reaction mixture, without precipitating or
isolating the formed ternary nanocrystal M1AB, to a suitable
temperature T2, adding to the reaction mixture at this temperature
a sufficient quantity of the element M2 in a form suitable for the
generation of a nanocrystal, then heating the reaction mixture for
a sufficient period of time at a temperature suitable for forming
said quarternary nanocyrstal M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y,
allowing the reaction mixture to cool to room temperature, and
isolating the quarternary nanocrystal
M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y.
[0067] The processes of preparing quarternary nanoalloys can be
carried out in the same manner as described above for the process
of preparing the ternary nanocrystals, i.e. the same reaction
temperatures, solvents and/or precursors of the elements M1, M2, A
and B can be used.
[0068] On a molecular level, the inventors have found that the
preparation of the nanoalloys of the invention can be separated
into two steps. The first step is the preparation of core
nanocrystals. The second step is to incorporate further
semiconductor materials into the core nanomaterials.
[0069] With respect to the high-temperature organometallic
preparation in the quasi-one-pot reaction, the growth of, for
example, binary M1A nanocrystals, can be stopped at anytime by
removing heat. As a result, different sized cores or different
color-emitting cores can be prepared by this approach. However,
different amounts of free precursors for core materials can be
retained in the system. It is noted that this system can be cooled
down simply without any treatment. A certain amount of the
as-prepared core materials is taken out and is heated to high
temperature, such as about 300.degree. C., with stirring under
argon flow. At this temperature, the other two precursors M1 and A
are added for alloying with core nanomaterials. The initial binary
nanocrystal M1A can also be prepared by other available methods
such as the wet chemistry method (Trindade et al, Chemistry of
Material 2001, pages 3843-3858).
[0070] For the direct "one-pot reaction", different sized cores or
different color-emitting cores can be prepared when varying the
reaction time. The reaction can be from microseconds to half an
hour or even longer (larger particles can be prepared with
increasing reaction time). The precursors used for alloying are
added at different reaction times. This approach is in particular
very efficient to prepare blue-emitting quantum dots.
[0071] In accordance with the above findings, a method of
synthesizing a colloidal binary M1A nanocrystal is disclosed,
comprising
[0072] (a) combining a metal M1 selected from the subgroup IIb,
subgroup VIIa, subgroup VIIIa or subgroup Ib of the PSE with a
ligand for said metal, and a coordinating solvent to form a metal
complex; and
[0073] (b) mixing an elemental chalcogenic precursor with the metal
complex at a temperature sufficient to form nanocrystals in an
reaction medium (solvent).
[0074] In this method the metal M1 is preferably selected from the
group consisting of Zn, Cd, Hg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu.
[0075] Suitable ligands that can be employed in this method are
chosen from organic amine, organic acid, phosphonic acid, phosphine
oxide with long chain alkyl or aryl groups, such as docecylamine,
hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, stearic acid, lauric acid, oleic
acid, hexylphosphonic acid, tetra decylphosphonic acid,
trioctylphosphins oxide, etc. Examples of suitable chalcogenic
precursors are selected from the compounds comprising or elements
consisting of S, Se, Te, P, and As. The reaction is preferable
carried out at the temperature between about 150.degree. C. and
about 400.degree. C.
[0076] Examples for useful coordinating solvents are chosen from
organic amine, organic acid, phosphonic acid, phosphine oxide with
long chain alkyl or aryl groups, such as docecylamine,
hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, stearic acid, lauric, acid, oleic
acid, hexylphosphonic acid, tetra decylphosphonic acid,
trioctylphosphins oxide, etc. Reactant media (solvents) are chosen
from the different types of solvents that can be used, including,
but not limited to, phosphine/phosphine
oxide/phosphite/phosphate/amine/phosphonic acid/ether/alkane, etc.
with alkyl or aryl groups. The medium can be trioctylphosphine,
tributylphosphine, tri(dodecyl)phosphine, trioctylphosphine oxide,
trioctylphosphine oxide, trioctylphosphine oxide,
dibutyl-phosphite, tributyl phosphite, trioctadecyl phosphite,
trilauryl phosphite, tris(tridecyl) phosphite, triisodecyl
phosphite, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate, tris(tridecyl) phosphate,
hexadecylamine, oleylamine, octadecylamine, bis(2-ethylhexyl)amine,
octylamine, dioctylamine, trioctylamine, dodecylamine/laurylamine,
didodecylamine tridodecylamine, hexadecylamine, dioctadecylamine,
trioctadecylamine, phenylphosphonic acid, hexylphosphonic acid,
tetradecyl-phosphonic acid, octylphosphonic acid,
octadecylphosphonic acid, propylenediphosphonic acid,
phenylphosphonic acid, aminohexylphosphonic acid, dioctylether,
dioctyl ether/octyl ether, dodecyl ether, hexadecyl ether,
octadecyl and octadecene.
[0077] In addition, in yet an alternative process to the solvent
based methods, the nanocrystals of the present invention can be
prepared by thermal alloying (cf. Example 2) This process comprises
heating core-shell nanocrystals to their alloying point or to a
temperature above said alloying point for a sufficient period of
time. For this process any conventional core-shell quantum dot such
as CdSe/ZnSe or CdSe/CdS core shell quantum dots can be used. The
term "alloying point" as used herein means the very sharp
temperature boundary which occurs when a homogenous alloy of a
specific composition is formed. The "alloying point" is comparable
to a sharp melting or boiling point of a compound and can thus
easily be determined (see Example 2).
[0078] The present invention further refers to a ternary or
quarternary nanocrystal, as disclosed here, conjugated to a
molecule having binding affinity for a given analyte. By
conjugation to a molecule having binding affinity for a given
analyte, a marker compound or probe is formed in which the
nanocrystal of the invention serves as a label or tag which emits
radiation, preferably in the visible or near infrared range of the
electromagnetic spectrum, that can be used for the detection of a
given analyte.
[0079] In principle every analyte can be detected for which a
specific binding partner exists that is able to at least somewhat
specifically bind to the analyte. The analyte can be a chemical
compound such as a drug (e.g. Aspirin.RTM. or Ribavirin), or a
biochemical molecule such as a protein (for example troponin) or a
nucleic acid molecule. When coupled to an appropriate molecule with
binding affinity (which is also referred to as the analyte binding
partner) for an analyte of interest, such as Ribavirin, the
resulting probe can be used for example in a fluorescent
immunoassay for monitoring the level of the drug in the plasma of a
patient. In case of troponin, which is a marker protein for damage
of the heart muscle, and thus in general for a heart attack, a
conjugate containing an anti-troponin antibody and an inventive
nanocrystal can be used in the diagnosis of heart attack.
[0080] The analyte can also be a complex biological structure
including but not limited to a virus particle, a chromosome or a
whole cell. For example, if the analyte binding partner is a lipid
that attaches to a cell membrane, a conjugate comprising a
nanocrystal of the invention linked to such a lipid can be used for
detection and visualization of a whole cell. For purposes such as
cell staining or cell imaging, a nanocrystal emitting visible light
is preferably used. In accordance with this disclosure the analyte
that is to be detected by use of a marker compound that comprises a
nanoparticle of the invention conjugated to an analyte binding
partner is preferably a biomolecule.
[0081] Therefore, in a further preferred embodiment, the molecule
having binding affinity for the analyte is a protein, a peptide, a
compound having features of an immunogenic hapten, a nucleic acid,
a carbohydrate or an organic molecule. The protein employed as
analyte binding partner can be, for example, an antibody, an
antibody fragment, a ligand, avidin, streptavidin or an enzyme.
Examples of organic molecules are compounds such as biotin,
digoxigenin, serotronin, folate derivatives and the like. A nucleic
acid can be selected from, but not limited to, a DNA, RNA or PNA
molecule, a short oligonucleotide with 10 to 50 bp as well as
longer nucleic acids.
[0082] When used for the detection of biomolecules a nanocrystal of
the invention can be conjugated to the molecule having binding
activity for an analyte via a linking agent. A linking agent as
used herein, means any compound that is capable of linking a
nanocrystal of the invention to a molecule having such binding
affinity. Examples of the types of linking agents which may be used
to conjugate a nanocrystal to the analyte binding partner are
(bifunctional) linking agents such as
ethyl-3-dimethylaminocarbodiimide or other suitable cross-linking
compounds which are known to the person skilled in the art.
Examples of suitable linking agents are
N-(3-aminopropyl)3-mercapto-benzamide,
3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane,
3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-maleimide, and
3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-hydrazide. Prior to reaction with the
linking agent, the surface of the nanocrystals can be modified, for
example by treatment with glacial mercaptoacetic acid, in order to
generate free mercaptoacetic groups which can then employed for
covalently coupling with an analyte binding partner via linking
agents.
[0083] Furthermore, the invention is also directed to a composition
containing at least one type of nanocrystal as defined here. In one
preferred embodiment, the nanocrystal is incorporated into a
plastic bead or a latex bead. Furthermore, a detection kit
containing a nanocrystal as defined here is also part of the
invention.
[0084] In addition to the above described biomedical applications
as fluorescent probes, the nanoalloys of the present invention can
also be used as (short-wavelength) light-emitting devices. A
preferred use is the use of the nanocrystals of the invention in
color displays like computer monitors. For this application,
nanocrystals can be embedded into plastic beads. A further example
is their use in light emitting diodes. For this purpose, the
nanoalloys can be incorporated into an organic matrix material, and
then a substrate such as glass, metal or a polymer material is
coated with a film comprising the nanoalloys (cf. Tessler et al,
supra). A further application is the use of the nanocrystals in
other optical device structures such as optical amplifiers and
lasers as described by Klimov et al., supra. If nanoalloys such as
CdHgTe, which emit in the infrared region of the electromagnetic
spectrum, are used, applications in the telecommunication sector,
for instance, as infrared optical amplifier medium are also within
the scope of the present invention.
[0085] The invention is further illustrated by the following
non-limiting examples and the attached drawings in which:
[0086] FIG. 1 shows absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra
for bare CdSe nanocrystals and alloyed Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe
nanocrystals of the invention with the following Zn contents: (a)
0, (b) 0.28, (c) 0.44, (d) 0.55, and (e) 0.67 (FIG. 1A, 1B). As
evident from FIGS. 1A,B with the increase of Zn content in the
alloyed nanocrystals, the absorption and PL emission spectra are
significantly blue-shifted. FIG. 1C shows corresponding high
resolution transmission electron micrographs (HRTEM) of samples of
these alloyed nanocrystal and of a standard CdSe nanocrystal. The
scale bar in photograph (a) showing the CdSe nanocrystal is 2
nm;
[0087] FIG. 2 show a wide-field high-resolution transmission
electron micrograph (HRTEM) of alloyed Zn.sub.0.67Cd.sub.0.33Se of
the invention (sample e as shown in FIG. 1). The scale bar is FIG.
2 is 5 nm;
[0088] FIG. 3 shows X-ray powder diffraction patterns of pure CdSe
and ZnSe nanocrystals and Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe alloy
nanocrystals;
[0089] FIG. 4 shows the evolution of photoluminescence spectra in
the progress of core-shell nanocrystals turning to alloyed
nanocrystals under different temperatures for 10 min (FIG. 4A). In
FIG. 4B the variation of the photoluminescence peak position of a
core-shell CdSe/ZnSe nanocrystal having a 4.7 nm core and being
coated with a 1.5 monolayer of ZnSe and its conversion into a
ternary alloy after heating to from 260 to 270.degree. C. for 10
min is shown. FIG. 4B thus shows the preparation of ternary
nanocrystals according to the invention by use of thermal
alloying.
[0090] FIG. 5 shows the temporal evolution of the absorption
spectra of ZnCdSe alloyed nanocrystals (FIG. 5A) and core-shell
nanocrystals consisting of a CdSe core and a ZnS shell (FIG. 5B) in
aqueous solutions when heated at 80.degree. C. The
photoluminescence intensity was measured in arbitrary units at time
period of 0, (a), 1 (b), 3 (c), 5 (d) or 10 h (f);
[0091] FIG. 6 schematically shows a conventional ZnS capped CdSe
core-shell nanocrystal (FIG. 6A), and a ternary nanocrystal of the
present invention (FIG. 6B) that is covalently coupled to a
biomolecule (such as a protein coupled by mercaptoacetic acid).
[0092] FIG. 7 shows the temporal evolution of UV-vis and PL spectra
of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys prepared by quasi-one-pot
preparation of Example 1.1 with increasing Zn mole fraction from 0
to 0.67 (the spectrum of which is also shown in FIG. 1).
[0093] FIG. 8 shows the temporal evolution of UV-vis and PL spectra
of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys prepared by the one-pot
preparation of Example 1.2. As seen in FIG. 8A, during the course
of the reaction the absorption maximum shifts from about 550 nm
(after 2 min) gradually to about 525 nm (2 hours).
[0094] FIG. 9 shows the temporal evolution of UV-vis and PL spectra
of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys prepared by the one-pot
preparation of Example 1.3. As shown in FIG. 9A, during the course
of the reaction the absorption maximum shifts from about 550 nm at
the beginning of the reaction (2 min) gradually to about 425 nm
after a reaction time of 4 hours).
[0095] FIG. 10 shows the temporal evolution of UV-vis and PL
spectra of Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys prepared by the one-pot
preparation of Example 2. Here, the absorption maximum shifts from
about 600 nm (after 2 min) to about 650 nm after 20 min reaction
time.
[0096] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a multiplex
analysis of biomolecules using the nanocrystals of the
invention.
[0097] As will be seen from the following examples, in the present
invention an effective high temperature synthetic strategy has been
developed for the first time to make a series of high-quality
nanoalloys such as Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe alloy nanocrystals with
emission wavelengths ranging from 460 to 630 nm by incorporating Zn
and Se into starting CdSe nanocrystals (by diffusing Zn and Se into
CdSe core particles). The composition-tunable emission across the
visible spectrum has been systematically demonstrated over the
composition of the Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe (0<x<1) nanoalloys
(the emission wavelength blue-shifts gradually with increasing Zn
content). In this respect, the term "high quality" when used with
reference to the nanocrystals (quantum dots) of the invention is
preferably defined as narrow size distribution, good crystallinity,
high luminescence efficiency and stability.
EXAMPLE 1
Synthesis of Ternary Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocyrstals
EXAMPLE 1.1
Synthesis of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocrystal Alloys via a
Quasi-One-Pot Reaction (Separate Two Steps)
[0098] The highly luminescent, nearly monodisperse ZnCdSe quantum
dots of the invention were synthesized in a quasi "one pot
procedure" as follows. It is noted that in this example M1
represents Cd and M2 represents Zn, although Zn is cited as first
element in the formula Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe.
[0099] 0.034 g (0.3 mmol) of cadmium powder and 0.34 g (1.2 mmol)
of stearic acid were loaded in a 50 ml three-neck flask and heated
to over 250.degree. C. with stirring under argon atmosphere. After
Cd was completely dissolved to get an optically clear solution, the
reaction system was allowed to cool to room temperature. 10.0 g of
trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), and 5.0 g of octadecylamine (ODA)
were added to the flask, and the mixture was dried and degassed in
the reaction vessel by heating to about 150.degree. C. at about 1
Torr for about 1 h, flushing periodically with argon at least three
times. The temperature of the reaction flask was then stabilized at
310.degree. C. with stirring under 1 atm of argon. At this
temperature, the excess amount of Se solution containing 0.12 g
(1.5 mmol) of Se dissolved in 1.0 ml trioctylphosphine (TOP) was
swiftly injected into the reaction flask in less than 0.1 second's
period. After the injection, the temperature was set at
270-300.degree. C. for the growth of binary CdSe nanocrystals.
After the nanocrystals grew at this temperature for 5-10 minutes,
the heater was removed and the flask was allowed to cool to room
temperature.
[0100] A certain amount of the as-prepared CdSe reaction mixture
(containing 0.1 mmol CdSe quantum dots) was taken out and was
heated to 300.degree. C. with stirring under argon flow. At this
temperature, 0.5 ml of Zn(Et).sub.2 solution in TOP (containing
0.1-0.4 mmol Zn, depending on the desired amount of Zn in the
nanocrystal) and 0.5 ml of Se solution in TOP (containing 0-0.2
mmol of Se) was added in three portions. Then the reaction mixtures
was kept for 5-10 minutes at a temperature between 280 and
310.degree. C. before the heater was removed to stop the reaction.
The resulting alloy nanocrystals were precipitated by adding
methanol (8 ml) into the reaction mixture, and isolated by
centrifugation. Alloy nanocrystals were either stored as
precipitate or dispersed in organic solvent (such as chloroform and
toluene etc.) (see the Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe PL and UV-vis spectra
in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7).
[0101] For the determination of the relative content of Zn and Cd
and the further characterization and measurements described in
Example 3 the excess ligands and reaction precursors were
completely removed by extensive purification prior to the further
measurements described here. No further size selective purification
was done for the samples described here.
[0102] The relative content of Zn and Cd in the nanocrystals was
measured via Inductively-Coupled-Plasma atomic emission (ICP) by a
standard HCl/HNO.sub.3 digestion. The presence of Zn on the
synthesized CdZnSe nanocrystals is unambiguously confirmed by EDS.
By use of these methods, the preparation of ternary nanocrystals
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe with Zn contents of (a) 0, (b) 0.28, (c) 0.44,
(d) 0.55, and (e) 0.67 was confirmed.
[0103] In this respect, it is noted that the amounts of the
elements M2 and A (or suitable precursor form(s) of these elements)
which are exemplified here as Zn and Se needed to grow CdZnSe alloy
can be determined by the desired Zn ratio in each target CdZnSe
alloy dots.
[0104] For ternary alloys with a low Zn content, i.e. x<0.4, no
Se precursor is needed (the unreacted Se in the CdSe reaction
mixture can serve as the Se source); for high Zn content alloy
(x>0.4), extra Se precursor should be complemented after part of
Zn precursor added. The stoichiometric amounts of Zn and Se
precursors lead to the desired ratio of Zn/Cd in each targeted
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys. The synthesized ternary
nanocrystals were precipitated by adding a methanol/acetone solvent
mixture into the chloroform solution and isolated by centrifugation
and decantation.
[0105] In control experiments, it was further confirmed that the
reactivity of the CdSe reaction mixture depended on its history and
that preparation of initial binary CdSe crystals as described above
leads to the formation of ternary nanocrystals as disclosed
here.
[0106] In a first control experiment, a similar direct-one-pot
approach was taken. After the CdSe nanocrystals were grown at high
temperature (270-300.degree. C.) for the appropriate period (2-15
min), the Zn precursor was injected into this hot solution. The
ZnSe-only photoluminescence peak was observed and the blue-shift
for the starting CdSe photoluminescence peak was not observed (data
not shown). This demonstrated that the Zn/Se nucleated
independently and the CdSe-ZnSe alloy did not occur. However, if
the Zn precursor was injected into the starting CdSe reaction
solution after cooling to room temperature and then reheating to an
appropriate temperature (260-340.degree. C.), the alloying process
occurred in this quasi one pot synthesis of the present invention
(see above). This indicates that a Se-rich layer was formed on the
surface in the starting CdSe dots during the low temperature
process, which then helps the growth of ZnSe on the original dots
and the subsequent diffusion into the particles and the alloying
into ternary alloys.
[0107] In a second control experiment, the binary CdSe
nanoparticles were synthesized as described above and cooled to
room temperature. The solution was then heated up to a temperature
between 260 and 340.degree. C., for more than half hour. In this
case, the alloying process did not occur either. This result
indicates that the Se-rich layer which formed at cooling the
reaction mixture, i.e. at low temperature, was unstable at high
temperature and gradually eliminated after long time heating in the
second step. Because of the absence of the Se-rich layer, the Zn
will nucleate independently and no ternary alloy can form.
EXAMPLE 1.2
Synthesis of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocrystal Alloys via a One-Pot
Reaction (Continuous Two Steps)
[0108] 0.034 g (0.3 mmol) of cadmium powder and 0.34 mg (1.2 mmol)
of stearic acid was loaded in a 50 ml three-neck flask and heated
to over 250.degree. C. under argon atmosphere. After Cd was
completely dissolved to get an optically clear solution, the
reaction system was allowed to cool to room temperature. 10.0 g of
trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), and 5.0 g of octadecylamine (ODA)
were added to the flask, and the mixture was dried and degassed in
the reaction vessel by heating to about 150.degree. C. at about 1
Torr for about 1 h, flushing periodically with argon at least three
times. The temperature of the reaction flask was then stabilized at
310.degree. C. with stirring under 1 atm of argon. At this
temperature, a Se solution containing 0.12 g (1.5 mmol) of Se
dissolved in 1.0 ml of trioctylphosphine (TOP) was swiftly injected
into the reaction flask, followed by ZnMe.sub.2 (0.3-0.9 mmol). The
system was then set at 270-310.degree. C. for growth of the alloy
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals to reach predetermined emission
wavelength. After the alloy nanocrystals reached the desired
emission wavelength, the heater was removed and the reaction
mixture was cooled down to stop the reaction. When the temperature
of the reaction mixture cooled to below 70.degree. C., the alloy
nanocrystals were precipitated by adding about 15 ml of methanol.
The precipitate was separated by centrifugation and decantation.
Alloy nanocrystals were either stored as precipitate or dispersed
in organic solvent (such as chloroform and toluene etc). (see the
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe PL and UV-vis spectra in FIG. 8).
[0109] If a solution containing a mixture of Se and Te is used
dissolved in 1.0 ml of trioctylphosphine (TOP), quaternary
nanoalloys M1.sub.1-xM2.sub.xA.sub.yB.sub.1-y (for example
ZnCdSeTe) of the invention are available.
EXAMPLE 1.3
Synthesis of Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocrystal Alloys via
One-Pot-Reaction using CdMe.sub.2 as Precursor
[0110] 10.0 g of trioctylphosphine oxide and 5.0 g of
hexadecylamine were loaded in a 50 ml three-neck flask and the
mixture was dried and degassed in the reaction vessel by heating to
about 150.degree. C. at about 1 Torr for about 1 h, flushing
periodically with argon at least three times. The temperature of
the reaction flask was then stabilized at 310.degree. C. with
stirring under 1 atm of argon. At this temperature, 0.47 g (6 mmol)
of selenium dissolved in 4.0 ml of TOP was added into the reaction
system, followed by the quick injection of 1.0 mmol of CdMe.sub.2
and then 1.0-3.0 mmol of ZnMe.sub.2. The system was then set at
270-310.degree. C. for growth of the alloy Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe
nanocrystals to reach a predetermined emission wavelength. After
the alloy nanocrystals reached the desired emission wavelength, the
heater was removed and the reaction mixture was cooled down to stop
the reaction. When the temperature of the reaction mixture cooled
to below 70.degree. C., the alloy nanocrystals were precipitated by
adding about 15 ml of methanol. The precipitate was separated by
centrifugation and decantation. Alloy nanocrystals were either
stored as precipitate or dispersed in organic solvent (such as
chloroform and toluene etc. (see the Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe PL and
UV-vis spectra in FIG. 9)
EXAMPLE 2
Synthesis of Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocrystal Alloys via
One-Pot-Reaction using CdMe.sub.2 as Precursor
[0111] 10 g of trioctylphosphine oxide and 5 g of hexadecylamine
were loaded in a 50 ml three-neck flask and the mixture was dried
and degassed in the reaction vessel by heating to about 150.degree.
C. at about 1 Torr for about 1 h, flushing periodically with argon
at least three times. The temperature of the reaction flask was
then stabilized at 310.degree. C. with stirring under 1 atm of
argon. At this temperature, 0.39 g (5.0 mmol) of selenium dissolved
in 4.0 ml of TOP was added into the reaction system, followed by
the quick injection of 1.0 mmol of CdMe.sub.2 and then 1.0-3.0 mmol
of HgMe.sub.2. The system was then set at 270-310.degree. C. for
growth of the alloy Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals to reach a
predetermined emission wavelength. After the alloy nanocrystals
reached the desired emission wavelength, the heater was removed and
the reaction mixture was cooled down to stop the reaction. When the
temperature of the reaction mixture cooled to below 70.degree. C.,
the alloy nanocrystals were precipitated by adding about 15 ml of
methanol. The precipitate was separated by centrifugation and
decantation. Alloy nanocrystals were either stored as precipitate
or dispersed in organic solvent (such as chloroform and toluene
etc.) (see the Hg.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe PL and UV-vis spectra in FIG.
10)
[0112] Also in this case, use of, for example, a mixture of Se and
Te dissolved in TOP yields quaternary alloys of the invention such
as HgCdSeTe.
EXAMPLE 3
Preparation of Ternary ZnCdSe Nanocrystals by Thermal Alloying
[0113] In an alternative method, the nanocrystals of the present
invention were prepared by thermal alloying.
[0114] For this purpose, CdSe/ZnSe core-shell nanocrystals were
prepared according to a literature standard method (Murray et al.,
supra). For comparison purposes, CdSe/CdS and CdSe/ZnS were
prepared and subjected to a heat treatment as follows.
[0115] Synthesis of CdSe/ZnSe core shell nanocrystals: A certain
amount of the as-prepared CdSe reaction mixture (containing
.about.0.02-005 mmol CdSe quantum dots) was taken out and was
heated to 180-220.degree. C. At this temperature, equimolar amounts
of Zn/S precursor Zn(Et).sub.2 and (TMS).sub.2S in 1-2 ml TOP were
added dropwise to the vigorously stirring reaction mixture over a
period of 10 to 15 min. After the addition was complete, the
mixture was keep at this temperature and left stirring for half an
hour. Then it was cooled down to room temperature.
[0116] The same batch of as-prepared CdSe/ZnSe samples was
subjected to a 10 minutes heat treatment under different
temperatures between 200.degree. C. and 340.degree. C. The alloying
process was monitored by measuring the photoluminescence spectrum
of the sample. Overall, the behavior of the nanocrystals was
analyzed at seven predetermined temperatures yielding the following
results.
[0117] Three clear steps of the alloying process were observed and
are shown in FIG. 4 as follows: obvious ripening region of the
core-shell nanocrystals between 200 and 270.degree. C. with 7-nm
red shift in emission from 580 to 587 nm, rapid alloying region
with significant .about.30-nm blue shift (a sharp drop in the
emission wavelength) from 580 to 548 nm with a small temperature
change between 270 and 290.degree. C., and a stable region in
emission wavelength after the alloying process. The alloying
process occurs slowly at about 270.degree. C. and becomes much
faster with increasing temperature. It can complete within 10 min.
if the temperature goes up beyond 290.degree. C. This rapid
alloying leads to no obvious initial red shift due to Ostwald
ripening. These results clearly show that the ternary alloyed
Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals rapidly form at the temperature
higher than 270.degree. C. This very sharp temperature boundary at
270.degree. C. is also called "alloying point" here, like a sharp
melting or boiling point. Accordingly, the ternary nanocrystals of
the invention can be prepared by heating core-shell nanocrystals at
the alloying point or at a temperature above said alloying point
for a sufficient period of time.
[0118] It is worth noting here that the growth temperatures
(260-340.degree. C.) are significantly lower than the melting
temperature for bulk materials CdSe (1350.degree. C.) and ZnSe
(1100.degree. C.). Alloying nevertheless takes place presumably
because of the fact that nanocrystals have a much lower melting
point compared to the bulk material and also presumably a lower
temperature for the onset of inter-atomic diffusion. The original
binary CdSe nanocrystals are synthesized using an excess of Se.
Therefore, they may have a Se rich surface in the mother solution,
which may be helpful for the injected Zn source to bond with the
mother particle surface and to diffuse into the particle.
EXAMPLE 4
Characterization of Ternary Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe Nanocrystals
[0119] The ternary Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals prepared in
Example 1 were further characterized with respect to their physical
and functional properties. The photoluminescence properties for the
nanoalloys (with PL efficiency of 70-85%, FWHM=22-30 nm) are
comparable to or better than those for the best reported CdSe QDs.
Indeed, they have much better PL properties in the blue spectral
range. Moreover, the nanoalloys retain their high luminescence
(with PL efficiency of over 40%) when dispersed in aqueous
solutions and maintain a consistent peak shape and spectral
position under rigorous experimental conditions. These novel
optical properties render quantum dots ideal fluorophores for
ultrasensitive, multicolor, and multiplexing applications in
molecular biotechnology and bioengineering.
EXAMPLE 4.1
Blue-Shift for Alloying Evidence and Composition-Controlled Optical
Properties
[0120] The most direct and immediate probes for alloying are the
absorption and fluorescence spectra. FIGS. 1a & 1b show
absorption and fluorescence spectra for Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe alloys
with different Zn ratios initiated from the same CdSe particles
having diameter of 5.2 nm. As shown in FIG. 1c, the representative
images of CdSe and Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe show that the nanoalloys
become larger from 5.2, 5.8, 6.3, 6.8, to 7.5 nm with increasing Zn
mole fractions from 0, 0.28, 0.44, 0.55, to 0.67, respectively. The
proportional increase of particle size with the Zn content offers
further alloying evidence to support the formation of narrow size
distributed alloys (cf. also FIG. 2).
[0121] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show absorption and fluorescence spectra
for the as-prepared Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys by
incorporating wider band gap ZnSe into narrow band gap CdSe
nanocrystals. With increasing ZnSe mole fractions from 0 to 0.67, a
significant about 110-120 nm blue shift of the first excitonic
absorption profile and PL emission wavelength is clearly observed.
This systematic blue shift is evidence for alloying of intermixing
ZnSe with CdSe nanocrystals, i.e. that the resulting nanocrystals
arise from alloying but not shell growth.
[0122] The resulting Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanoalloys have
comparable optical properties in absorption but significantly
narrower emission bandwidth (22-30 nm at FWHM) compared to the
starting CdSe nanocrystals. The lack of inhomogeneous emission
broadening indicates the uniform formation of monodispersed alloy
nanocrystals. The photoluminescence quantum yield of the
nanocrystals of the invention was determined to be around 65-85%
(calculated by comparing the integrated emission to that of organic
dyes), which is comparable the best result for red-luminescent CdSe
nanocrystals. The corresponding emission efficiency in chloroform
increases from 70% to 85% with this increase of ZnSe.
EXAMPLE 4.2
Characterization of the Ternary Nanocrystals by Wide-Field
High-Resolution Transmission Electron Micrograph (HRTEM)
[0123] High Resolution TEM (HRTEM) allows qualitative probing of
the internal structure of the composite nanocrystals and
determination of the average size, size distribution, and aspect
ratio. Representative HRTEM images of the starting CdSe
nanocrystals are presented in FIG. 1C and FIG. 2.
[0124] The nanocrystals in the micrographs show well-resolved
lattice fringes with measured lattice spacing in the original CdSe
similar to the Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals. The wurtzite
crystal structure is resolved by the fringe contrast, and is also
clearly revealed by the Fourier transform of the image presented in
FIG. 2. The alloyed nanocrystals are very nearly spherical dots and
remained fully crystalline upon ZnSe incorporation. There was no
evidence for any defects traversing the entire nanocrystals.
Indeed, the main indication of alloying is the increase of the
nanocrystals' diameter (from original 4.7 to 7.2 nm). The particle
size determined from TEM can be used to estimate the ZnSe content
in the Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe nanocrystals. The calculated Zn content
accorded with the measured value by ICP method.
[0125] Evidence for the alloying also arises from the homogeneous
image contrast throughout the nanocrystals except for a smooth
drop-off near the edge of the nanocrystals (due to a different
thickness). If they formed a core-shell structure, a noticeable
stepwise drop-off in image contrast across the first few outlayers
should be observed due to the fewer electrons per unit cell in ZnSe
than that in CdSe.
EXAMPLE 4.3
Structrural Characterization of the Alloyed Nanocrystals by X-ray
Powder Diffractometry
[0126] The nanoparticles were further characterized by powder X-ray
diffractometry (XRD). The obtained patterns for the starting CdSe,
4.6 nm in diameter, and for Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe with increasing Zn
content are presented in FIG. 3. The CdSe XRD pattern consists of
the characteristic peaks of wurtzite, which are broadened because
of the finite crystalline domain size. With the incorporation of
ZnSe, the diffraction peaks shift to larger angles consistent with
the smaller lattice constant for ZnSe compared with CdSe. In
addition, the diffraction peaks narrow upon the incorporation of
ZnSe. Considering the shifts in peak position and the narrowing,
the XRD patterns could be indicative of alloying. It is evident
that for a homogenous alloy the diffraction peaks should narrow
with increasing particle sizes. If they had formed a core-shell
structure, the narrowing trend in XRD peak widths could not have
been observed.
[0127] An epitaxial alloying formation mechanism is suggested here.
It includes initially epitaxial formation of ZnSe on the CdSe,
followed by alloying by heat diffusion of Zn into CdSe cores.
Wurtzite CdSe served as template to form Zn.sub.xCd.sub.1-xSe
alloys, which retain the wurtzite structure of the CdSe lattice and
also retain the high quality properties of CdSe such as high
quantum yield. Actually the most stable form of ZnSe is cubic
zincblende. However, only one-type of wurtzite crystal was observed
in alloyed ZnCdSe nanocrystals of the invention. No phase
segregation and separated nucleation of ZnSe was observed. These
experimental results show no evidence of ZnSe nanocrystals, thus
also confirming the presence of a homogenous ternary nanoalloy.
EXAMPLE 4.4
Functional Analysis of the Photoluminescent Properties of the
Ternary ZnCdSe Nanocrystals
[0128] For examination of the photoluminescent properties of the
ternary ZnCdSe nanocrystals, a ternary nanocrystal of 6.3 nm
emitting green light was compared with a 2.3-nm core-shell
structured ZnS/CdSe nanocrystal. For this purpose the nanocrystals
were heated at 80.degree. C. in air-saturated aqueous solution for
more than 5 hours and the photoluminescence was monitored. The
results of this experiment are shown in FIG. 5B. Only about 10%
decrease in PL emission intensity was observed for the
Zn.sub.0.55Cd.sub.0.45Se nanoalloys while .about.50% decrease was
found for the core-shell ZnS/CdSe nanocrystals. Furthermore, the
emission maximum (529 nm) and the band-width of the ternary
nanocrystals remained the same whereas the core-shell nanocrystals
underwent both a red-shift in the emission maximum and a strong
decrease in the photoluminescence yield, indicating their
decomposition under these conditions.
[0129] From this experiment it gets evident that the ternary
nanocrystals according to the present invention have significantly
improved chemical stability and improved photoluminescence
properties compared to conventional core-shell nanocrystals.
EXAMPLE 5
Surface Modification of the Ternary Nanocrystals
[0130] Ternary CdZnSe nanocrystals of the invention are dissolved
in chloroform and are reacted with mercaptoacetic acid solution
under vigorous shaking and mixing for half hour, then dissolved by
dropwise addition of tetraethylammonium hydroxide solution. After
shaking, the chloroform and water layers separated spontaneously.
The aqueous layer, which contained mercapto-coated nanocrystals,
was extracted.
[0131] The nanocrystals so obtained carried free mercaptoacetic
groups which can be used for covalently coupling of compounds such
as proteins, peptides, or organic molecules to the nanocrystals,
rendering them suitable for use as probes in various applications.
For example, polypeptides such as antibodies, avidin, transferrin
or small ligands such as biotin or folate compounds can be coupled
to the nanocrystals via cross-linking agents such as carbodiimides,
for example, ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropylcarbodiimde), as described
in Chan and Nie, supra or Hermanson, Bioconjugates Techniques,
Academic Press, New York, 1996. Such probes can then be used as
marker or cell staining compounds.
EXAMPLE 6
Multiplexing Analysis of Biomolecules Using the Nanocyrstals of the
Invention
[0132] A quantum dot emits light of a specific color or wavelength,
depending on its size. The intensity of the light given out also
varies with the quantity of dots. The basic concept as shown in the
scheme II of FIG. 12 for multiplexed bio-analysis is to develop a
large number of different colored smart nanostructures that have
not only molecular recognition abilities but also built-in codes
for rapid target identification. For example, the surface of a
polymer bead is conjugated to biomolecular probes such as
oligonucleotides and antibodies, while an identification code using
nanoparticles emitting at a different wavelength is embedded in the
bead's interior. By integrating molecular recognition and optical
coding, each bead can be considered a "chemical lab
(lab-on-a-bead)" that detects and analyzes a unique sequence or
compound in a complex mixture.
[0133] For 24-bit true color display like computer monitors, over
one million colors are required through the combination of the
three primary colors RGB (red, green, and blue). In the
lab-in-a-bead approach, the used plastic beads are coded by
controlling the size and number of the ternary or quaternary dots
of the present invention in the beads. For instance, a system that
uses 3 colors of dots each with 10 intensity levels would
theoretically have beads with about 1000 different combination of
colors and intensities. With 5 colors of dots, the number of
combinations increases to 100,000. These beads are attached to
short strands of DNA or protein that are mixed with the target DNA
or protein. Those that match the target will be attached to it. By
reading the light codes of the beads attached to each matching
strand, it is possible to determine the make-up of the target DNA
or proteins. By use of about 30,000 to about 40,000 discriminated
color-beads, it is possible to encode the complete human genome at
a single test.
[0134] To demonstrate the use of quantum dot-tagged beads for
biological assays, a model DNA hybridization system was designed
(Scheme III in FIG. 12) using oligonucleotide probes and
triple-color encoded beads. Target DNA molecules were labeled with
a fluorescent dye or a quantum dot of the invention. Optical
spectroscopy at the single-bead level yielded both the coding and
the target signals. The coding signals identified the DNA sequence,
whereas the target signal indicated the presence and the abundance
of that sequence.
[0135] Conventional technologies include the lab-on-a-chip, or
biochip, in which miniature DNA-decoding troughs are etched onto
flat surfaces. The lab-on-a-bead technology using the nanocrystals
of the invention is more flexible in target selection (e.g. adding
new genes or single-nucleotide mutations), faster in binding
kinetics (similar to that in homogeneous solution), and cheaper in
production. This technology provides high sensitivity and high
reaction speeds for many types of multiplexed assays, from
immunoassays to SNP detection, as well as easy-to-use,
high-throughput, and low-cost assays. This multiplexing technology
combines the advantages of quantum dots with those of microfluidics
and microarrays.
* * * * *