SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Novel methods to generate 3D nanocrystal films for electronic and optoelectronic devices
- Notice Date
- 5/22/2024 11:31:14 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 334413
— Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- LLNS � DOE CONTRACTOR Livermore CA 94551 USA
- ZIP Code
- 94551
- Solicitation Number
- IL-13151andIL-13633
- Response Due
- 6/22/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 07/07/2024
- Point of Contact
- Jared Lynch, Phone: 9254226667, Charlotte Eng, Phone: 9254221905
- E-Mail Address
-
lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov
(lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov)
- Description
- Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its �novel methods to fabricate nanocrystal films for electronic and optoelectronic devices. Background: Ordered nanocrystal superlattices are emerging materials that have widespread applications in photodetectors, light emitting devices, solid state lasers, solar cells, thermoelectric devices, field effect transistors, and memory devices. The degree of order in the superlattices is crucial for their applications. Currently, nanocrystal superlattices are fabricated with solvent evaporation methods, such as dip coating, spinning coating, spray coating, drop casting, ink jet printing. These processes trade off fabrication speed and crystalline quality of the films; fast fabrication results in disorder or poorly ordered superlattices, whereas a highly ordered superlattice often requires a fairly long fabrication time. Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are important building blocks for low-cost, solution-processed electronic devices with tunable functionalities. Thus, a fast and effective method to create nanocrystal films that retains structural ordering is needed.� Description: LLNL researchers have developed two approaches to fabricate nanocrystal superlattices for electronic and optoelectronic devices.� Nanocrystals covered by this approach include, but are not limited to, metal nanocrystals, semiconducting nanocrystals (quantum dots), and insulating nanocrystals, or a combination of those. LLNL�s patented approach uses electric fields to drive and control assembly (US Patent No. 11,499,248). �This innovative method increases local nanocrystal concentration, initiating nucleation and growth into ordered superlattices. Nanocrystals remain solvated and mobile throughout the process, allowing fast fabrication of ordered superlattices. The fabrication method is faster and offers more tunability than current solvent evaporation or destabilization methods and can produce superlattices with morphologies beyond colloidal crystals in other material systems.� One of the strategies to improving charge transport through nanocrystal films is exchanging of long insulating ligands with shorter passivating ligands.� However, it is difficult to retain long-range, close-packed order after the exchange.� To address this particular challenge, LLNL researchers have also developed and subsequently filed a patent application (US Patent Application No. 2022/0243352) a novel one-step in situ ligand-exchange method that enables rapid ligand exchange of nanocrystal films that are more than 50 layers thick. The nanocrystal film�s long-range order is retained after ligand exchange from bulky ligand to small organic molecular ligand. Moreover, it is demonstrated that nanocrystal photodetectors made using this method with a well-ordered structure have superior optoelectronic properties compared to disordered films; ordered films have a 16� higher responsivity of ?0.25 A W?1 at 1 V and a 2� faster response time. Advantages/Benefits:� LLNL�s patented electric-field driven approach produces highly ordered colloidal crystals in much shorter times and much denser materials than current methods. For example, LLNL researchers have created 2 micron thick films with domain sizes greater than 25 microns and ordered nanoparticle ensembles with a face centered cubic structure that has ~74% of packing density, respectively.� This method also allows for tuning the structure of nanoparticle ensembles (e.g., degree of order, lattice constant, degree of preferential orientation, and morphology on patterned surfaces), which is crucial for the fabrication of devices with complex structures.� The technique also allows one to change the capping ligands on the surfaces of nanoparticles at the same time as they are being assembled/deposited. LLNL�s one-step ligand exchange process reduces the time needed for ligand exchange by 2-3 orders of magnitude (from days/several hours to <5 min). This is important for the manufacture of devices for which long-range order or higher density is required to improve performance. The ability to perform rapid ligand exchange on thicker nanocrystal films is of specific interest in many optoelectronic device applications. Potential Applications:� Optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors or quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) Solar cells Thermoelectric devices Field effect transistors Memory devices Development Status:� Current stage of technology development:� TRL 3 LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention. US Patent No. 11499248 Electric field driven assembly of ordered nanocrystal superlattices published 11/15/2022 U.S. Patent Application No. 2022/0243352 Ligand Exchange Of Nanocrystal Films published 8/4/2022 LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.� Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note:� THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.� Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's novel methods to fabricate nanocrystal films for electronic and optoelectronic devices should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's novel methods to fabricate nanocrystal films for electronic and optoelectronic devices. The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL�s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-779 Livermore, CA� 94551-0808 Attention:�� IL-13151 and IL-13633
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/27d7d7addfa448b692d4d336f6f7d605/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Livermore, CA, USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN07072997-F 20240524/240522230044 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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