Method of preparing nanocrystals

Abstract

A population of nanocrystals having a narrow and controllable size distribution and can be prepared by a continuous flow method.

1 . A continuous flow reactor for producing a population of nanocrystal, comprising:
 a mixer;   a reaction conduit fluidly connected to the mixer and having a reaction zone, the reaction zone being heated to a constant temperature;   an M source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer; and   an X source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the mixer is a convective mixing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction conduit is a heated glass reaction channel. 
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction zone includes a temperature controller that maintains the reaction zone at the constant temperature, the constant temperature being between 180 and 320° C. 
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a growth stopping zone fluidly connected to the reaction zone. 
     
     
         6 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction conduit is configured for segmented flow. 
     
     
         7 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the mixer includes a mixing region. 
     
     
         8 . A continuous flow reactor for producing a population of nanocrystal, comprising:
 a mixer including a convective mixing chamber;   a reaction conduit fluidly connected to the mixer and having a reaction zone, the reaction zone being heated to a constant temperature;   an M source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer; and   an X source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer.   
     
     
         9 . The reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the reaction conduit is a heated glass reaction channel. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the reaction zone includes a temperature controller that maintains the reaction zone at the constant temperature, the constant temperature being between 180 and 320° C. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor of  claim 8 , further comprising a growth stopping zone fluidly connected to the reaction zone. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the reaction conduit is configured for segmented flow. 
     
     
         13 . The reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the mixer includes a mixing region. 
     
     
         14 . A continuous flow reactor for producing a population of nanocrystal, comprising:
 a mixer;   a reaction conduit fluidly connected to the mixer and having a reaction zone, the reaction zone including a temperature controller that maintains the reaction zone at a constant temperature;   an M source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer; and   an X source reservoir fluidly connected to the mixer.   
     
     
         15 . The reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the mixer includes a convective mixing chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the reaction conduit is a heated glass reaction channel. 
     
     
         17 . The reactor of  claim 14 , further comprising a growth stopping zone fluidly connected to the reaction zone. 
     
     
         18 . The reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the reaction conduit is configured for segmented flow. 
     
     
         19 . The reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the mixer includes a mixing region.