Studies on the effect of acetate ions on the optical properties of InP/ZnSeS core/shell quantum dots

[Display omitted] The effect of residual acetate ions in indium oleate (In(OA)3) precursor on the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) and size distribution of InP-based core/shell quantum dots (QDs) was studied. For comparison, the synthesis conditions of In(OA)3 were varied to control the amount of acetate ions that remained in the In(OA)3 precursor. The acetate ions resulted in smaller crystallites in single QD and in surfaces with a greater defect concentration, yielding low PL QYs and broader size distributions. For a complete exchange of acetate ligand in indium acetate (In(Ac)3) with oleate, In(Ac)3 was reacted with excess oleic acid. Pure In(OA)3 precursor led to bright InP/ZnSeS core/shell QDs with a uniform size after a shell was formed on the InP core QDs.