Cation exchange in nanocrystals affords chemists the opportunity to tune electronic and optical properties while conserving the physical structure of the host. As such, examination of cation exchange pathways in well-defined host lattices can improve insightful design of these materials. Magic-sized clusters (MSCs) are an ideal template for these studies because they are perfectly monodisperse and possess uniform surface environments in contrast to the dynamic surfaces of larger nanocrystals. Our lab has utilized an atomistically precise InP MSC as a model system with the goals of (1) improving our comprehension of current alloyed and doped InP quantum dots and (2) broadening the scope and versatility of chemical transformations of InP nanomaterials. Under conditions diverging from the typical strategies employed in larger InP nanocrystals, we demonstrate that the InP MSC is amenable to cation exchange leading to alloyed and doped structures. Furthermore, doped and alloyed InP MSCs acting as robust single-source precursors to larger nanostructures can enrich the synthetic methodology available to chemists.

Cation exchange induced evolution of InP magic-sized cluster physical and electronic structure

255th National Meeting (2018)

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