Semiconductor nanocrystals and method of preparation

Abstract

A method for preparing semiconductor nanocrystals comprising indium arsenide is disclosed. The method includes heating a first mixture including nanocrystal seeds comprising indium arsenide with an absorbance in a range from about 700 to 800 nm and a liquid medium in a reaction vessel to a first temperature; and combining the nanocrystals seeds comprising indium arsenide with an indium-source mixture and an arsenic-source mixture under conditions suitable to increase the size of the seeds to form the semiconductor nanocrystals comprising indium arsenide, wherein the indium-source mixture includes an indium precursor, a coordinating solvent, and a carboxylic acid; and the arsenic-source mixture includes a liquid medium and an arsenic precursor represented by the formula As(Y(R)), where Y is Ge, Sn, or Pb; and each R, independently, is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein each R, independently, is optionally substituted by 1 to 6 substituents independently selected from hydrogen, halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, amino, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkoxy, acyl, thio, thioalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, or heteroaryl. Semiconductor nanocrystals are also disclosed.