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Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Pre-Shell Protection Suppresses Facet-Selective Core Digestion in InP Quantum Dots for High-Yield and Uniform
You-Cheng Wu1, Hsuan-Yu Lee1, Hsueh-Shih Chen1,2,3
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
None:
Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are leading cadmium-free alternatives for advanced display technologies, offering wide emission tunability and environmental compliance. However, achieving a high production yield and size uniformity remains challenging. Here we identify a previously overlooked phenomenon, i.e., facet-selective dissolution of InP cores ("core digestion") during the high-temperature ramping stage in zinc oleate media. This process reduces the number of cores, thereby broadening the core size distribution and disturbing the subsequent shell growth conditions. We introduce a preshell protection strategy that stabilizes the InP core surface before ZnSe/ZnS shell growth, effectively suppressing core digestion. As a result, the obtained core/shell QDs exhibit an enhanced particle yield, improved size uniformity, and superior optical performance. This work reveals a degradation pathway in InP synthesis and provides a practical route to scalable, high-quality QDs for display applications.
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