Abstract: Inorganic photoluminescent nanoparticles comprising a solid assembly comprising a first plurality of atoms from group II crystallized with a second plurality of atoms from group VI; at least one dimension of the assembly less than about 3.0 nm; and one or more organocarboxylate agents coupled to a surface that bounds the assembly, wherein the nanocrystal exhibits nanocrystal photoluminescence quantum yield of at least about 10%. Coupling to such surface comprises coating at least a portion of the nanocrystal being coated with the organocarboxylate agent, wherein the organocarboxylate agent is a carboxylic acid or the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid. The carboxylic acid can be is selected from formic acid, acetic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, oleic acid, and benzoic acid. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are inorganic nanoparticles comprising a body comprising cadmium and/or zinc crystallized with selenium, sulfur, and/or tellurium; a multiplicity of phosphonic acid ligands comprising at least about 20% of the total surface ligand coverage; wherein the nanocrystal is capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the maximum absorbance wavelength of the first electromagnetic region is different from the maximum emission wavelength of the second electromagnetic region, thereby providing a Stokes shift of at least about 20 nm, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 100 nm wide band of wavelengths, and wherein the nanoparticle exhibits has a quantum yield of at least about 10%. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preparing inorganic nanoparticles. In one aspect, the methods can comprise heating a reaction mixture comprising a C8 to C20 alkyl- or arylphosphonic acid and a source of cadmium or zinc to a temperature of greater than about 300° C.; adding to the reaction mixture an injection mixture comprising a C2 to C16 trialkyl- or triarylphosphine and a source of selenium, sulfur, or tellurium; and decreasing the temperature of the reaction mixture to less than about 300° C. Also disclosed herein are nanoparticles made from the disclosed methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Inorganic photoluminescent nanoparticles comprising a solid assembly comprising a first plurality of atoms from group II crystallized with a second plurality of atoms from group VI; at least one dimension of the assembly less than about 3.0 nm; and one or more organocarboxylate agents coupled to a surface that bounds the assembly, wherein the nanocrystal exhibits nanocrystal photoluminescence quantum yield of at least about 10%. Coupling to such surface comprises coating at least a portion of the nanocrystal being coated with the organocarboxylate agent, wherein the organocarboxylate agent is a carboxylic acid or the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid. The carboxylic acid can be is selected from formic acid, acetic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, oleic acid, and benzoic acid. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle or nanocrystal, also referred to as a quantum dot, capable of emitting white light. In a further aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 50 nm wide band of wavelengths and to methods for the preparation thereof. In further aspects, the invention relates to a frequency converter, a light emitting diode device, a modified fluorescent light source, an electroluminescent device, and an energy cascade system comprising the nanoparticle of the invention. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle or nanocrystal, also referred to as a quantum dot, capable of emitting white light. In a further aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 50 nm wide band of wavelengths and to methods for the preparation thereof. In further aspects, the invention relates to a frequency converter, a light emitting diode device, a modified fluorescent light source, an electroluminescent device, and an energy cascade system comprising the nanoparticle of the invention. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are inorganic nanoparticles comprising a body comprising cadmium and/or zinc crystallized with selenium, sulfur, and/or tellurium; a multiplicity of phosphonic acid ligands comprising at least about 20% of the total surface ligand coverage; wherein the nanocrystal is capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the maximum absorbance wavelength of the first electromagnetic region is different from the maximum emission wavelength of the second electromagnetic region, thereby providing a Stokes shift of at least about 20 nm, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 100 nm wide band of wavelengths, and wherein the nanoparticle exhibits has a quantum yield of at least about 10%. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are inorganic nanoparticles comprising a body comprising cadmium and/or zinc crystallized with selenium, sulfur, and/or tellurium; a multiplicity of phosphonic acid ligands comprising at least about 20% of the total surface ligand coverage; wherein the nanocrystal is capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the maximum absorbance wavelength of the first electromagnetic region is different from the maximum emission wavelength of the second electromagnetic region, thereby providing a Stokes shift of at least about 20 nm, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 100 nm wide band of wavelengths, and wherein the nanoparticle exhibits has a quantum yield of at least about 10%. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A metal to ceramic sealed joint which can withstand wide variations in temperature and maintain a good seal is provided for use in a device adapted to withstand thermal cycling from about 20 to about 1000 degrees C. The sealed joint includes a metal member, a ceramic member having an end portion, and an active metal braze forming a joint to seal the metal member to the ceramic member. The joint is positioned remote from the end portion of the ceramic member to avoid stresses at the ends or edges of the ceramic member. The sealed joint is particularly suited for use to form sealed metal to ceramic joints in a thermoelectric generator such as a sodium heat engine where a solid ceramic electrolyte is joined to metal parts in the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microscreen radiation shield which reduces radiative heat losses in thermoelectric generators such as sodium heat engines without reducing the efficiency of operation of such devices. The radiation shield is adapted to be interposed between a reaction zone and a means for condensing an alkali metal vapor in a thermoelectric generator for converting heat energy directly to electrical energy. The radiation shield acts to reflect infrared radiation emanating from the reaction zone back toward the reaction zone while permitting the passage of the alkali metal vapor to the condensing means. The radiation shield includes a woven wire mesh screen or a metal foil having a plurality of orifices formed therein.