Silicon nanoparticle dispersions
View Patent ↗Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures.
1. A dispersion comprising from about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % doped elemental silicon nanoparticles having an average primary particle size of from about 2 nm to about 100 nm and an average secondary particle size of no more than about 250 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering, and a solvent comprising alcohol.
2. The dispersion of claim 1 wherein at least 95 percent of the nanoparticles have a size greater than about 40 percent of the average primary particle size and less than about 160 percent of the average primary particle size.
3. The dispersion of claim 1 wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol.
4. The dispersion of claim 1 further comprising polysilioxane.
5. The dispersion of claim 1 further comprising polyacrylate.
6. The dispersion of claim 1 further comprising a dissolved polymer.
7. The dispersion of claim 1 having an average primary particle size from about 2 nm to about 50 nm.
8. The dispersion of claim 1 wherein the dopant increases the electrical conductivity of the silicon nanoparticles.
9. The dispersion of claim 1 wherein the silicon nanoparticles are crystalline.
10. The dispersion of claim 1 wherein the dispersion is stable.
11. A dispersion comprising from about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % doped elemental silicon nanoparticles having an average particle size from about 2 nm to about 100 nm, a solvent comprising alcohol and a polyacrylate or a polysiloxane.
12. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein at least 95 percent of the nanoparticles have a size greater than about 40 percent of the average primary particle size and less than about 160 percent of the average primary particle size.
13. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the nanoparticles are crystalline.
14. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the dopant increases the electrical conductivity of the silicon nanoparticles.
15. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the solvent comprises alcohol.
16. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the dispersion comprises polysiloxane.
17. The dispersion of claim 16 wherein the polysiloxane comprises amino groups, carboxylic acid groups or combinations thereof.
18. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol.
19. The dispersion of claim 11 wherein the dispersion is stable.
20. The dispersion of claim 11 comprising a combination of polymers.