Evolution from unimolecular to colloidal-quantum-dot-like character in chlorine or zinc incorporated InP magic size clusters.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 32561721.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-16855-9 and PMC identifier 7305325.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Magic-sized clusters (MSCs) can be isolated as intermediates in quantum dot (QD) synthesis, and they provide pivotal clues in understanding QD growth mechanisms. We report syntheses for two families of heterogeneous-atom-incorporated InP MSCs that have chlorine or zinc atoms. All the MSCs could be directly synthesized from conventional molecular precursors. Alternatively, each series of MSCs could be prepared by sequential conversions. 386-InP MSCs could be converted to F360-InP:Cl MSCs, then to F399-InP:Cl MSCs. Similarly, F360-InP:Zn MSCs could be converted to F408-InP:Zn MSCs, then to F393-InP:Zn MSCs. As the conversion proceeded, evolution from uni-molecule-like to QD-like characters was observed. Early stage MSCs showed active inter-state conversions in the excited states, which is characteristics of small molecules. Later stage MSCs exhibited narrow photoinduced absorptions at lower-energy region like QDs. The crystal structure also gradually evolved from polytwistane to more zinc-blende.