Alloyed semiconductor nanocrystals

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for preparing 3-element semiconductor nanocrystals of the formula WYxZ(1−x), wherein W is a Group II element, Y and Z are different Group VI elements, and 0<x<1, comprising dissolving a Group II element, a first Group VI element, and a second Group VI element in a one or more solvents. The Group II, VI and VI elements are combined to provide a II:VI:VI SCN precursor solution, which is heated to a temperature sufficient to produce semiconductor nanocrystals of the formula WYxZ(1−x). The solvent used to dissolve the Group II element comprises octadecene and a fatty acid. The solvent used to dissolve the Group VI elements comprises octadecene. The invention also includes semiconductor nanocrystals prepared according to the disclosed methods, as well as methods of using the semiconductor nanocrystals.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A solar cell comprising 2-6-6 SCNs of the formula WY x Z (1-x) , wherein W is a Group II element, Y and Z are different Group VI elements, and 0<X<1. 
     
     
         18 . The solar cell of  claim 17 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN is prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 dissolving a Group II element, a first Group VI element, and a second Group VI element in a solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         19 . The solar cell of  claim 17 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element and a first Group VI element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         20 . The solar cell of  claim 17 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI and a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         21 . The solar cell of  claim 17 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   preparing a third solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a third solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first, second, and third solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         22 . An organic light emitting device comprising 2-6-6 SCNs of the formula WY x Z (1-x) , wherein W is a Group II element, Y and Z are different Group VI elements, and 0<X<1. 
     
     
         23 . The organic light emitting device of  claim 22  2-6-6 SCN prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 dissolving a Group II element, a first Group VI element, and a second Group VI element in a solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and 
 heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs. 
 
     
     
         24 . The organic light emitting device of  claim 22  wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element and a first Group VI element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene; 
 mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and 
 heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs. 
 
     
     
         25 . The organic light emitting device of  claim 22  2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI and a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene; 
 mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and 
 heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs. 
 
     
     
         26 . The organic light emitting device of  claim 22  wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene; 
 preparing a third solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a third solvent comprising octadecene; 
 mixing said first, second, and third solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and 
 heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs. 
 
     
     
         27 . A solid-state light-emitting diode comprising 2-6-6 SCNs of the formula WY x Z (1-x) , wherein W is a Group II element, Y and Z are different Group VI elements, and 0<X<1. 
     
     
         28 . The solid-state light-emitting diode according to  claim 27 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 dissolving a Group II element, a first Group VI element, and a second Group VI element in a solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         29 . The solid-state light-emitting diode according to  claim 27 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element and a first Group VI element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         30 . The solid-state light-emitting diode according to  claim 27 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI and a second Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first and second solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.   
     
     
         31 . The solid-state light-emitting diode according to  claim 27 , wherein the 2-6-6 SCN prepared by preparing a first solution by dissolving a Group II element in a first solvent comprising octadecene and a fatty acid;
 preparing a second solution by dissolving a first Group VI element in a second solvent comprising octadecene;   preparing a third solution by dissolving a second Group VI element in a third solvent comprising octadecene;   mixing said first, second, and third solutions to provide a 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution; and   heating said 2-6-6 SCN precursor solution to a temperature sufficient to produce said 2-6-6 SCNs.