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Title: Precursor reaction kinetics control compositional grading and size of CdSe 1−x S x nanocrystal heterostructures
We report a method to control the composition and microstructure of CdSe 1−x S x nanocrystals by the simultaneous injection of sulfide and selenide precursors into a solution of cadmium oleate and oleic acid at 240 °C. Pairs of substituted thio- and selenoureas were selected from a library of compounds with conversion reaction reactivity exponents ( k E ) spanning 1.3 × 10 −5 s −1 to 2.0 × 10 −1 s −1 . Depending on the relative reactivity ( k Se / k S ), core/shell and alloyed architectures were obtained. Growth of a thick outer CdS shell using a syringe pump method provides gram quantities of brightly photoluminescent quantum dots (PLQY = 67 to 90%) in a single reaction vessel. Kinetics simulations predict that relative precursor reactivity ratios of less than 10 result in alloyed compositions, while larger reactivity differences lead to abrupt interfaces. CdSe 1−x S x alloys ( k Se / k S = 2.4) display two longitudinal optical phonon modes with composition dependent frequencies characteristic of the alloy microstructure. When one precursor is more reactive than the other, its conversion reactivity and mole fraction control the number of nuclei, the final nanocrystal size at full conversion, and the elemental composition. The utility of controlled reactivity for adjusting alloy microstructure is discussed.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1709464 1709287
NSF-PAR ID:
10105710
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Chemical Science
Volume:
10
Issue:
26
ISSN:
2041-6520
Page Range / eLocation ID:
6539 to 6552
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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