Patent ID: 10749058

Abstract:
Embodiments described herein generally relate to monodisperse nanoparticles that are capable of absorbing infrared radiation and generating charge carriers. In some cases, at least a portion of the nanoparticles are nanocrystals. In certain embodiments, the monodisperse, IR-absorbing nanocrystals are formed according to a method comprising a nanocrystal formation step comprising adding a first precursor solution comprising a first element of the nanocrystal to a second precursor solution comprising a second element of the nanocrystal to form a first mixed precursor solution, where the molar ratio of the first element to the second element in the first mixed precursor solution is above a nucleation threshold. The method may further comprise a nanocrystal growth step comprising adding the first precursor solution to the first mixed precursor solution to form a second mixed precursor solution, where the molar ratio of the first element to the second element in the second mixed precursor solution is below the nucleation threshold.