Investigating the role of amine in InP nanocrystal synthesis: destabilizing cluster intermediates by Z-type ligand displacement

Abstract

The reaction of primary amines with In₃₇P₂₀(O₂CR)₅₁ is found to remove In(O₂CR)₃ subunits from In₃₇P₂₀(O₂CR)₅₁. This loss of Z-type ligands coincides with structural rearrangement to alleviate core strain and passivate phosphorus atoms. This result consolidates conflicting claims that primary amines both promote and retard precursor conversion rates for InP nanocrystals.