A group of researchers just unveiled a detailed study delving into a new method of growing nanoplatelets that has the potential to significantly enhance electronics. The method requires less energy and costs and provides more consistency than the current processes. Here’s everything you need to know.
CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets
Nanoplatelets are microscopic thin sheets of material. These sheets can be used for several purposes depending on the material and its characteristics. Today, you can find these devices in many of your most important sensors, LEDs, and even solar panels. Their widespread use is due to the materials’ Ferroelectric properties exhibited by certain variants.
Notably, Ferroelectric materials can sustain their polarization which can be switched when voltage is detected. As such, they serve vital roles in many of today’s high-tech structures. However, there are some drawbacks to the current methods in use for creating these helpful microcrystals.
Issues with Current CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets
Several issues have limited the use of CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets; the main problem with today’s manufacturing processes is that they are very expensive. Creating high-quality CsPbBr3 crystals requires high temperatures and specialty devices and cannot create larger, more useful crystals reliably. Recognizing these shortcomings, the team put forth a new technique for creating the crystal necessary to manufacture large, reliable CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets.
CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets Study
The study titled “Near Room Temperature Solvothermal Growth of Ferroelectric CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets with Ultralow Dark Current” was published in the science journal Advanced Materials this month. It explains how engineers were able to use a new solvent-based method to improve reliability, lower costs, and enhance the size of the crystals they could create consistently.
Solvothermal Synthesis
The team’s new method for creating crystals relies on a process called solvothermal synthesis. In this manufacturing process, a precursor chemical is used to facilitate the growth of crystals. The solution is alcohol based and provides superior solubility, enabling larger and more consistent nanoplatelets to form. The dissolved material reform as ultra-thin nanoplates that measure only micrometers thick.
- Source – IISER Pune
In comparison, human hair can range from 30 – 80 micrometers thick. These microscopic platelets are the ideal addition to advanced electronics that require lightweight and reliable materials that can be mass-produced affordably. Once the team had created their microdevices, it was time to test their theory.
CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets Tests
The engineers carried out multiple tests on the CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets. They began by testing electrical characteristics, then light, followed by durability and consistency. To ensure they had accurate results, multiple testing methods were used.
Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
One of the main points of interest was the electrical capabilities of the new nanoplatelets. Researchers needed to test these characteristics to ensure that the units held conductivity. Specifically, they wanted to know how much, how long, and what effectiveness. The team noted ferroelectricity in the CsPbBr3 quantum dots and was able to measure the specific mechanical response of the crystals across various electrical fields.
Second Harmonic Generation
Researchers were also interested in the light capturing and sensitivity of these devices. They integrated Second Harmonic Generation testing to see exactly what light frequencies the crystals produce at certain currents. This testing helped the team to better understand the light detection capabilities of their microcrystals.
Results
The results of the team’s work speak for itself. The nanocrystals were created successfully. Additionally, they succeeded in retaining and surpassing previous crystals’ ferroelectric properties, meaning that the new method created more energy-efficient and sensitive crystals.
The testing also revealed that the new method for growing these units was successful. Researchers were able to synthesize bulk ferroelectric CsPbBr3 crystals using this approach, which is a first in the sector. This capability could revolutionize the market by enabling developers to integrate more sensitive and effective sensors into their electronics without raising prices. Specifically, the test revealed that the new microcrystals are 100x more effective at detecting light than their predecessors.
Benefits
There are several benefits that this research brings to the market. For years, engineers have sought out ways to create more sensitive light sensors and lighter devices. These units are vital in today’s electronics, energy production, and material science industries. Nanoplatelets provide a viable solution for these issues because they are tiny, lightweight, and when created properly, durable.
Near Room Temperature
One of the biggest benefits that the new crystal-forming method introduces is the ability to create nanoplatelets at near room temperature. The use of solvents rather than intense heat or radiation opens the door for less disruptive manufacturing processes. The new approach eliminates the need for high-powered devices, enabling more manufacturers to introduce the methods while reducing costs.
Batch Crystal Creation
The demand for nanoplatelets is on the rise, and this latest study will help to meet those demands. Creating large batches of CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets has proven to be difficult in the past. For one, the early processes didn’t support the creation of batches of crystals. This new approach provides uniformity across the manufacturing process, enabling engineers to easily produce durable CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets.
Lower Costs
It’s expensive to create nanoplatelets using the current methods. Specialty tools that can withstand high temperatures at micron levels are difficult to use, limited in availability, and expensive to design, manufacture, distribute, and upkeep. Using alcohol-based solvent elements, many of these requirements open the door for widespread adoption of this nanoplatelet manufacturing process moving forward.
Better Electrical Properties
The solvent solution method provides better electrical conductivity and polarisation compared to previous manufacturing techniques. These characteristics could help engineers make more effective solar panels, LEDs, and optical observation equipment.
Smaller Devices
Another major reason why the industry is looking at this study with excitement is that nanoplatelets are critical components in today’s microelectronics. The solvent solution method makes it easier to create small, reliable platelets that can be fitted onto other nano or micro robotics. These microscopic devices are seen by many as the future of multiple industries.
Researchers
The study was put forth by a team of engineers led by Gokul Anilkumar, Dr. Rahman Dr. Goutam Sheet, and Prof. Pavan Kumar from IISER, and Dr. Sooyeon Hwang from Brookhaven National Laboratory. Each team brought their specific skills to the project enabling the group to conduct a variety of testing across multiple spectrums and using the latest models.
Potential Applications
There are several use case applications for nanoplatelets across industries. These devices are crucial in today’s economy, where they have been used to make stronger materials, prevent the spread of diseases, and much more. Here are the top potential applications for the teams CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets
Ultrasensitive Sensor
One of the main use cases for this discovery is the introduction of ultra-sensitive light detectors. These sensors could usher in a new age of high-powered solar panels that are sensitive enough to gather light from faint sources like the night sky. If successful, solar energy would get a major boost in reliability, efficiency, and size, as the new panels could be much more effective than older models.
Additionally, the sensors can be set up to create better safety and monitoring equipment. These sensors can detect the slightest bit of energy produced by light, X-rays, or other radiation sources. As such, they could make workplaces safer by providing more reliable detection methods.
Thermal Protection and Management
The aerospace industry has long used nanoplatelets to help solve many of its material science issues. These devices can help with the thermal management of materials under extreme conditions. For example, nanoplatelets can be used to strengthen material performance when entering or exiting the atmosphere. These tiny units can help to distribute or focus heat on key areas without adding to the overall weight of the project.
New Materials
Platelets serve a vital role in the creation of new materials for manufacturing. As such, engineers continue to discover new and more reliable materials using graphene nanoplatelets and more. These units have shown superior thermal, mechanical, and electrical characteristics. The introduction of these latest nanoplatelets could usher in a new age of ultra-strong lightweight materials.
Healthcare
There is a growing number of healthcare professionals who want to fight bacteria and diseases on a micron scale using nanoplatelets. Studies have shown that these units have antibacterial properties. As such, manufacturers are now looking at this tech as a way to reduce bacteria and improve drug delivery methods. There are also healthcare professionals who seek to use nanoplates as biomimetic nanocarriers. These devices can be set up to target specific organs or other regions of the body, making them an ideal way to deliver medications and treatments in hard-to-reach areas.
Two Companies that Could Benefit from The CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets Study
Several firms could use this CsPbBr3 Nanoplatelets study to improve their offerings. From aerospace to healthcare, these tiny devices are set to revolutionize the way electronics work. Here are two firms that could integrate this tech immediately and see their bottom line increase.
1. Novo Nordisk
Denmark-based biomedics firm Novo Nordisk is a prime example of a company that can integrate this updated nanoplatelets manufacturing process to enhance its offerings. The company launched in 1923 and was founded by two brothers Harald and Thorvald Pedersen. Notably, the company operated as two separate firms, Novo and Nordsick until 1989, when they merged, creating today’s Novo Nordisk.
Novo Nordisk is a primary competitor in the biomedics field. The company has been instrumental in creating new treatments for some of today’s worst diseases. Interestingly, the firm was pivotal in the introduction of insulin in the treatment process. The firm has multiple drugs in the market which include Levemir, NovoLog, Novolin R, NovoSeven, and more. These treatments are very popular and have led to Nova Nordsick becoming one of the premier healthcare companies in the world.
Today, Novo Nordisk has offices located in 7 countries globally and employs thousands of workers. Last year, the firm reported $24.31B in revenue with a 23% 1-year trailing total return. The firm’s constant commitment to finding new treatments and cures, coupled with this proven history, makes Novo Nordisk a prime addition to any portfolio.
2. Moderna Inc 
You may be familiar with Moderna as it made headlines as one of the premier researchers and creators behind the COVID-19 vaccine. The company entered the market in 2010 and quickly rose to fame. Notably, the company was originally named ModeRNA Therapeutics but rebounded in 2018. Its founders include Noubar B. Afeyan, Robert S. Langer, Jr., Derrick Rossi, Timothy A. Springer, and Kenneth R. Chien.
Moderna Inc. has had strong support since its launch. During its first capital funding rounds, the company succeeded in securing $2B from well-known VCs and healthcare providers. This support, coupled with strong research, helped the company secure collaborations with the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to create the COVID-19 vaccine.
Today, Moderna is a strong contender in the market. The company still makes vaccines and offers treatments for autoimmune disorders, diseases, and immuno-oncology services. It listed $20.68B in revenue last year and currently employs +5k professionals. While Modernans stock has seen some drawbacks, the company’s positioning and strong support from government officials signals that there could be significant upside potential in the future.
New Method of Growing Nanoplatelets Opens the Door
Nanoplatelets are a crucial component of many high-tech components used in daily life. Improving these devices will help to create new standards of efficiency across the market. It will also provide engineers with more opportunities to develop devices that use less energy to power. For these reasons and many more, this study could have an upending effect across multiple industries.
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