Quantum diamonds : a discussion of the chemistry, materials science, physics and applications of ternary (Cu-In-S) nanocrystals

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) are nanometer-sized crystallites of inorganic semiconductors with tunable optoelectronic properties, which has led to a variety of real-world applications beginning in the 1980s, ranging including electronic displays, solar cells, and quantum computers [(Lee, SID), (Tang, Nature Mater.), (Puri, Phys Rev. B)]. However, most high-quality QD materials explored to date have been limited for large-scale application due to toxicity concerns or difficult-to-scale preparative methods. This thesis explores the synthesis and properties of colloidal nanocrystals composed of the non-toxic semiconductor copper indium sulfide (CulnS₂). We report an improved core nanoparticle synthesis with unique compositional control, a rationally-designed precursor for the synthesis of high-quality CulnS₂/ZnS nanocomposites, and describe the dependence on the photophysical properties of CulnS₂/ZnS on core CulnS₂ elemental composition.