#OPTICAL: "Brightest nanoparticles shun quantum"

Quantum dots used to be the world's brightest nanoparticles, but now Clarkson University claims to have one-upped quantum confinement in favor of encapsulating fluorescent organic nanoparticles inside silica shells. Look for ultra-sensitive detectors using functionalized silica nanoparticlews within three years. R. Colin Johnson @NextGenLog


Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of an ultrabright fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticle (image colored artificially to match the actual color of the dye in the particles).

Here is what my EETimes story says about silica nanoparticles: The crown for the world's brightest nanoparticles has been claimed by the inventor of mesoporous silicon-dioxide (silica) nanoparticles, which have proven to be 34-times brighter than the brightest quantum dots—previously the world's brightest nanoparticles. The transparent silicon-dioxide hulls harbored fluorescent nanoparticles inside—rather than use quantum-confinement like quantum dots—enabling much brighter operation, according to their inventors at Clarkson University (Potsdam, New York)...

Full Text: http://bit.ly/NextGenLog-dKP7