Proceedings of MATSUS Spring 2025 Conference (MATSUSSpring25)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsusspring.2025.523
Publication date: 16th December 2024
InSb has a larger Bohr radius and thus offers a wider range of infrared wavelengths compared to other III-V's. Provided the complexity of achieving good shape and size control for large QDs, InSb can stay within a smaller size regime to achieve the 1400-1500 nm wavelengths of interest.
Here the synthetic challenges associated with InSb CQDs are investigated and it is found that uncontrolled reduction of the antimony precursor hampers the controlled growth of CQDs. To overcome this, a synthetic strategy that combines nonpyrophoric precursors with zinc halide additives is developed. The experimental and computational studies show that zinc halide additives decelerate the reduction of the antimony precursor, facilitating the growth of more uniformly sized CQDs. The halide choice provides additional control over the strength of this effect.
I will also discuss our computational efforts in understanding the surface structure of InSb dots and ligand exchanges to reduce surface oxidation.
Our further efforts are focused on understanding the nucleation process that can lead to better monodispersity. Specifically, I will discuss the kinetic models that include both anions and cations as well as real-space models that consider the geometric shape effects on nucleation and growth.