Synthesis of highly efficient azure-to-blue-emitting Zn–Cu–Ga–S quantum dots

Abstract

To realize blue emission-capable non-Cd I–III–VI quantum dots (QDs), we explore the synthesis of ternary Cu–Ga–S (CGS) QDs and subsequent quaternary Zn–Cu–Ga–S (ZCGS) via Zn alloying into a CGS host. The resulting ZCGS/ZnS core/shell QDs possess not only Zn content-dependent tunable emissions in the azure-to-blue range but also exceptional quantum yields of 78–83%.