Phosphine synthetic route features and postsynthetic treatment of InP quantum dots

•Quantum dots with average diameter of 3–5nm were synthesized.•PH3 was used as novel phosphorous precursor.•Electrophoresis was demonstrated to be an effective method of purification of QDs.•Photoeching leads to quantum yields about 20%.•The concentration and time dependencies for photoetching of QDs were obtained. In this paper we report on the development of synthesis of InP quantum dots with a gaseous phosphine PH3 as a source of phosphorus and myristic acid and TOP/TOPO as stabilizers. Samples synthesized using myristic acid as stabilizer at relatively low temperatures were found to contain admixture of In(OH)3. We studied the influence of HF concentration and duration of illumination on luminescence properties of InP quantum dots during photoetching process. Quantum yields of photoetched samples reached about 20%. Additionally, electrophoresis as a new technique of purification and size-depended separation of synthesized quantum dots was developed.