Abstract: Optical gain mediums are required for lasing devices and high intensity optical systems across a wide range of applications. A method for achieving optical gain includes an optical gain medium having colloidal quantum fountains includes providing pump radiation to the gain medium. The electrons of the colloidal quantum fountains are promoted from a valence band to an excited state in a conduction band of the colloidal quantum fountains. Seed radiation is provided to the gain medium and electrons of the quantum fountains are de-excited by the seed radiation through stimulated emission from the excited state to a lower energy state of the conduction band, thereby providing optical gain.

Abstract: Colloidal quantum wells have discrete energy states and electrons in the quantum wells undergo interband and intersubband state transitions. The transmissivity of a colloidal quantum well may be tuned by actively controlling the states of the colloidal quantum wells enabling ultrafast optical switching. A primary excitation source is configured to provide a primary excitation to promote a colloidal quantum well from a ground state to a first excitation state. A secondary excitation source is configured to provide a secondary excitation to the colloidal quantum well to promote the colloidal quantum well from the first excitation state to the second excitation state with the first and second excitation states being subbands in the conduction band of the colloidal quantum well.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of preparing a porous composite ceramic material and a porous composite ceramic material made by the method of preparing.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising doped, colloidal nanostructures that are configured to have a plasmonic response to light of a first resonance wavelength.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of preparing a porous composite ceramic material and a porous composite ceramic material made by the method of preparing.

Abstract: Colloidal quantum wells have discrete energy states and electrons in the quantum wells undergo interband and intersubband state transitions. The transmissivity of a colloidal quantum well may be tuned by actively controlling the states of the colloidal quantum wells enabling ultrafast optical switching. A primary excitation source is configured to provide a primary excitation to promote a colloidal quantum well from a ground state to a first excitation state. A secondary excitation source is configured to provide a secondary excitation to the colloidal quantum well to promote the colloidal quantum well from the first excitation state to the second excitation state with the first and second excitation states being subbands in the conduction band of the colloidal quantum well.

Abstract: Described herein are polycatenar ligand compounds and their use in the production of hybrid nanoparticles, typically nanocrystals. The present disclosure also relates to films containing the hybrid nanoparticles described herein and their use.

Abstract: An optically emissive material and, in particular, materials for use in single photon generation technologies, have multiple excited energy states that have different decay rates and can emit photons with different properties. A primary excitation radiation source is configured to apply primary radiation to an optically emissive material to excite the optically emissive material into a primary excited state. A secondary excitation radiation source is configured to apply secondary radiation to a thermal contribution material to generate thermal energy in the thermal contribution material. The thermal contribution material is physically configured to transfer thermal energy to the optically emissive material and excite the optically emissive material from the primary excited state to a secondary excited state for dynamic control of the emission rate, or emitted photon properties, of the optically emissive material.

Abstract: An optically emissive material and, in particular, materials for use in single photon generation technologies, have multiple excited energy states that have different decay rates and can emit photons with different properties. A primary excitation radiation source is configured to apply primary radiation to an optically emissive material to excite the optically emissive material into a primary excited state. A secondary excitation radiation source is configured to apply secondary radiation to a thermal contribution material to generate thermal energy in the thermal contribution material. The thermal contribution material is physically configured to transfer thermal energy to the optically emissive material and excite the optically emissive material from the primary excited state to a secondary excited state for dynamic control of the emission rate, or emitted photon properties, of the optically emissive material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing refractometry include a primary waveguide, that has an injection end optically coupled to a laser and an output end optically coupled to a detector. A secondary waveguide has an interior, closed-loop optical path exhibiting total internal reflection, and an exterior surface having bound thereto a plurality of instances of a first binding entity type for an analyte. A portion of the exterior surface of the secondary waveguide is adjacent to the exterior surface of the primary waveguide, and a solution comprising a carrier fluid and an amplification complex includes a secondary particle bound to a second binding entity type for the analyte. The second binding entity type selected to bind to the analyte. The secondary particle is selected to have an index of refraction different from both the carrier fluid and the analyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hybrid nanoparticle comprising a metallic core and at least one lipophilic dendron attached to the surface of the metallic core, and methods of producing such hybrid nanoparticles. The present disclosure also relates to films containing the hybrid nanoparticles described herein.

Abstract: A method for forming inorganic structures includes (a) transferring nanocrystals to a polar protic solvent using at least one chalcogenide precursor to produce a negatively-charged chalcogen-rich nanocrystal surface, (b) removing excess anions of the chalcogenide precursor, (c) introducing a metal salt to bind a divalent metal cation to the negatively-charged chalcogen-rich nanocrystal surface to regenerate a positively-charged metal-rich nanocrystal surface, and (d) removing excess divalent metal cations of the metal acetate salt.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hybrid nanoparticle comprising a metallic core and at least one lipophilic dendron attached to the surface of the metallic core, and methods of producing such hybrid nanoparticles. The present disclosure also relates to films containing the hybrid nanoparticles described herein.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising doped, colloidal nanostructures that are configured to have a plasmonic response to light of a first resonance wavelength.