Ternary synthesis of colloidal Zn3P2 quantum dots

The synthesis and characterization of crystalline colloidal zinc phosphide quantum dots with observable excitonic transitions ranging between 424-535 nm(2.3-2.9 eV) are reported. A ternary combination of ZnEt2, Zn(O2CR)(2), and P(SiMe3)(3), forms a pentanuclear zinc cluster on mixing followed by conversion to (Et2Zn)P(ZnO2CR)(2)(SiMe3) in a rate-determining step prior to quantum dot formation.