High Performance Thermoelectric Materials Using Solution Phase Synthesis of Narrow Bandgap Core/Shell Quantum Dots Deposited Into Colloid Crystal Thin

Evident Technologies, Inc. intends on using its core competency in quantum dot synthesis, quantum dot surface modification and quantum dot composites to create cost effective, high ZT thermoelectric thin films that can be deposited onto inexpensive flexible substrates. In the Phase I demonstration project Lead Selenide nanocrystals with a 1-2nm thick shell of PbS will be synthesized using proprietary solution phase synthesis techniques. These quantum dots, initially suspended in solution, will then be self assembled into a colloid crystal on substrate using surface modification and controlled solvent evaporation. Finally the PbS shells surrounding the PbSe quantum dot cores will be thermally fused resulting in a thin film structure having colosely spaced PbSe quantum dots suspending in a PbS matrix.