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Precise, Rapid and Scalable Size Selection of Nanoparticle Populations

Detailed Technology Description

Auburn University seeks a licensee for a method for the precise and rapid size selection of nanoparticles from a polydisperse population. When compared to existing processes, Auburn’s CO2-based process is faster, less expensive, cleaner, more precise, tunable and scalable. This technology has potential applications throughout the nanotechnology industry, including optics and imaging.

*Abstract

This method for precise, rapid and improved separation of nanoparticles by size relies on a solvent/antisolvent method that uses a gaseous antisolvent (e.g., CO2) to create a tunable gasexpanded liquid. Pressurized gaseous CO2 is placed over a nanoparticle solution.  By changing the pressure of CO2, the resulting fraction of liquid CO2 in the solution can be increased or decreased. Given that particle dispersibility is a function of CO2 concentration in the liquid, particles of any given target size can be made to precipitate by simply manipulating the CO2 pressure. Multiple monodisperse particle populations can be rapidly fractionated by adjusting only the CO2 pressure and the liquid location, thereby eliminating the difficulties associated with other methods that are time and solvent intensive, expensive and/or have limited throughput.

Advantages

• Significantly reduces time needed for a size fractionation compared to centrifugation
• Reduces expense and increases throughput (as compared to chromatographic methods)
• Narrows particle distributions as compared with existing methods
• Allows for mean particle size and polydispersity to be predetermined by simply choosing the proper CO2 pressurization
• Reduces operating costs and environmental impact through use of CO2 as the antisolvent
• Reduces post-processing time and costs through use of CO2, allowing simple particle cleaning and solvent/antisolvent recycling
• Allows easy and precise separation of various nanostructures, including nanorods or quantum dots

IP Status

• A companion technology exists that uses a similar methodology to
deposit nanoparticles as dense films with more uniformity, less processing and less cost than existing methods
• Two US (including 20070243716) and one EU application have been filed
• This invention has been successfully verified by laboratory experiment with various ligand-coated metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles
• A scalable prototype system has been created and tested

Country/Region

USA