US Patent 7807265 - Partially passivated qdots

http://ip.com/patent/US7807265

Passivation of quantum dot nanocrystals via a core/shell structure provides an increase in the qdot visible brightness. However, complete passivation can reduce the optical sensitivity of quantum dots to analytes. This patent from the University of Central Florida Research Foundation teaches a partial passivation quantum dot structure optimizing the brightness and the sensitivity for qdot biosensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A core shell particle, comprising:

a luminescent nanocrystal core, and

a partially passivating semiconducting shell on a surface said nanocrystal, and

an analyte selective shell covalently attached to said semiconductor shell.