New Syntheses for Aqueous and Processable Nanocrystals

Many classes of nanocrystals are synthesized by reactions in solvents composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons, resulting in products dispersible only in nonpolar media. To disperse these nanocrystals in aqueous and other polar solvents, secondary processing steps are used to exchange ligands or encapsulate the particles within amphiphilic polymers. This report will focus on new processes to increase the efficiency, scalability, and environmental waste profile for the production of hydrophilic nanocrystals. In particular, new types of coordinating ligands and processing steps will be described that may increase access to diverse nanocrystals stable in biological media for diverse applications in imaging and sensing.