US Patent 7394094 - Barbell shaped nanocrystal with electron/hole separation

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7394094.html

This patent from M.I.T. teaches a nanocrystal heterostructure in the shape of a barbell that allows for electron and hole separation for enhanced quantum efficiency electronic and photonic applications. Claim 1 reads:

1. A semiconductor nanocrystal comprising:

a central region and a first end, the central region including a first semiconductor material; and

a distal region at the first end of the nanocrystal, the distal region including a second semiconductor material,

wherein the first semiconductor material and the second semiconductor material are selected so that, upon excitation, one charge carrier is substantially confined to the central region and the other charge carrier is substantially confined to the distal region.