Colloidal CuInSe2 Nanocrystals in the Quantum Confinement Regime: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Electroluminescence

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C 2011-06, Vol.115 (25), p.12396-12402
• Main Authors: Zhong, Haizheng, Wang, Zhibin, Bovero, Enrico, Lu, Zhenghong, van Veggel, Frank C. J. M, Scholes, Gregory D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: C: Nanops and Nanostructures
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp204249j

Photoluminescent, near-stoichiometric colloidal CuInSe2 nanocrystals are synthesized in large batches and with good colloidal quality. An organometallic method is used with a moderate reaction temperature (≤200 °C) to produce CuInSe2 nanocrystals with size-tunable photoluminescence spectra ranging from ∼600 to ∼850 nm. Two-dimensional photoluminescence excitation–emission maps are reported for the CuInSe2 nanocrystals, highlighting the size-tunable excitonic features. Type I heterostructured CuInSe2/ZnS nanocrystals are prepared and purified. They are found to have absolute photoluminescence quantum yields up to ∼26%. The potential to use CuInSe2/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals as a potential low toxicity active layer in light-emitting diodes is demonstrated by fabricating electroluminescent devices.