Indium phosphide (InP) nanocrystals (NCs) have applications in LEDs, photovoltaics, and bio-imaging. We report the synthesis of InP NCs that are dispersible in polar solvent (DMSO) via in situ ligand stripping and etching by using microwave-assisted ionic liquid etching method. As the amount of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIm PF6) ionic liquid (IL) increases, NCs dispersibility changes from non-polar solvent (toluene) to polar solvent (DMSO). NCs have broad excitonic peak as the BMIM PF6 IL amount increases probably because of etching of the surface of the NCs with orange color emission. Ionic nature of the ligands present on the surface is confirmed by TGA method and zeta potential measurements. NCs dispersibility in DMSO solvent can also be achieved by 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BDMIm PF6) and 1-butyl-4-methyl-pyridinium hexafluorophosphate (BMPy PF6) IL with suitable ratios of indium to IL precursor. Similar synthesis studies with tetrafluoroborate(BF4-) based ILs could partially modify the surface of the NCs. The surface tunability can also be achieved by changing set-power of the microwave. This novel in-situ microwave synthesis opens up a window to synthesize other III-V semiconductors like InAs and InGaP NCs that are dispersible in polar solvents by one-step synthesis.

In situ ligand stripping and etching of indium phosphide nanocrystals

255th National Meeting (2018)

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