We report a synthesis of non-toxic InP nanocrystals using non-pyrolytic precursors instead of pyrolytic and unstable tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine, a popular precursor for synthesis of InP nanocrystals. In this study, InP nanocrystals are successfully synthesized using hexaethyl phosphorous triamide (HPT) and the synthesized InP nanocrystals showed a broad and weak photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. As synthesized InP nanocrystals are subjected to further surface modification process to enhance their stability and photoluminescence. Surface modification of InP nanocrystals is done at 230°C using 1-dodecanethiol, zinc acetate and fatty acid as sources of ZnS shell. After surface modification, the synthesized InP/ZnS nanocrystals show intense PL spectra centered at the emission wavelength 612 nm through 633 nm. The synthesized InP/ZnS core/shell structure is confirmed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES). After surface modification, InP/ZnS nanocrystals having narrow particle size distribution are observed by Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscope (FE-TEM). In contrast to uncapped InP nanocrystals, InP/ZnS nanocrystals treated with a newly developed surface modified procedure show highly enhanced PL spectra with quantum yield of 47%.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Synthesis and Properties of InP/ZnS core/shell Nanoparticles with One-pot process
  So Yeong Joo, Myung Hwan Hong, Leeseung Kang, Tae Hyung Kim, Chan Gi Lee
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2017; 24(1): 11.     CrossRef