Composite nanoparticles including a malonic acid derivative
A composite particle that includes: a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle (preferably, nanocrystal); and a malonic acid derivative attached to the core/shell nanoparticle outer surface, wherein the malonic acid derivative (prior to attachment to the nanoparticle) has the following Formula (I): wherein: R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkylene group having 8 or more carbon atoms (wherein it is understood that C—R 1 is a single or double bond); R 2 is H or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 or more carbon atoms; and x is 0 (resulting in C═R 1 ) or 1 (resulting in C—R 1 ); and wherein the malonic acid derivative is liquid at room temperature (prior to attachment to the nanoparticle).
1. A composite particle comprising:
a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle; and
a malonic acid derivative attached to the core/shell nanoparticle outer surface, wherein the malonic acid derivative has the following Formula (I):
wherein:
R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkylene group having 8 or more carbon atoms;
R 2 is H or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 or more carbon atoms; and
x is 0 or 1; and
wherein the malonic acid derivative is liquid at room temperature.
2. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the core comprises a first semiconductor material and the shell comprises a second semiconductor material that is different than the first semiconductor material.
3. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the core comprises a metal phosphide or a metal selenide.
4. The composite particle of claim 3 wherein the core comprises InP or CdSe.
5. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a zinc-containing compound.
6. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the shell is a multilayered shell.
7. The composite particle of claim 6 wherein the multilayered shell comprises an inner shell overcoating the core, wherein the inner shell comprises zinc selenide and zinc sulfide.
8. The composite particle of claim 7 wherein the multilayered shell comprises an outer shell overcoating the inner shell, wherein the outer shell comprises zinc sulfide.
9. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein x is 0.
10. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein x is 1.
11. The composite particle of claim 10 wherein R 2 group is H.
12. The composite particle of claim 10 wherein R 2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms.
13. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms.
14. The composite particle of claim 10 wherein each R 1 and R 2 is independently a branched alkyl group.
15. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative is soluble in a nonpolar organic solvent at room temperature in an amount of at least 1 wt-%.
16. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative comprises a mixture of compounds of Formula (I).
17. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative has the following Formula (II):
wherein R 3 is a branched alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms.
18. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative has the following Formula (III):
wherein:
R 4 is a branched alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms; and
R 5 is H or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 or more carbon atoms.
19. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative has the following Formula (IV):
wherein:
R 6 is a branched alkyl group having 9 or more carbon atoms; and
R 7 is a branched alkyl group having 9 or more carbon atoms.
20. The composite particle of claim 1 wherein the malonic acid derivative is selected from:
21. A composite particle comprising:
a fluorescent semiconductor core/shell nanoparticle comprising:
an InP core;
an inner shell overcoating the core, wherein the inner shell comprises zinc selenide and zinc sulfide; and
an outer shell overcoating the inner shell, wherein the outer shell comprises zinc sulfide; and
a malonic acid derivative attached to the core/shell nanoparticle outer surface, wherein the malonic acid derivative has the following Formula (I):
wherein:
R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 or more carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkylene group having 8 or more carbon atoms;
R 2 is H or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 or more carbon atoms; and
x is 0 or 1; and
wherein the malonic acid derivative is liquid at room temperature.