(765g) Synthesis and Surface Functionalization of Group IV Quantum Dots

Using photons instead of electrons to transport information on chips would enable wider telecommunication bandwidth and generate less waste heat compared to conventional electronic circuits. However, so-called integrated photonic circuits have been challenging to implement because Si, the cornerstone of modern electronics, has an indirect bandgap and therefore does not emit or absorb light efficiently. As a plausible alternative, quantum-sized Group IV nanocrystals, or quantum dots (QDs), can be tuned to emit and absorb light in relevant telecommunication bands by controlling size and/or composition. The synthesis of Group IV QDs with controlled size and composition has been challenging for many reasons, including a need for high temperature to crystallize Group IV elements and poor understanding over factors that govern precursor decomposition and crystallite nucleation/growth.

Here, we report the synthesis of Group IV quantum dots (QDs) that have near-infrared absorption and emission that can be tuned by changing the size or composition. We demonstrate colloidal and solid-state routes to making Group IV NCs with controlled size and composition. We also explore new surface passivation strategies that facilitate processing Group IV OQs into semiconducting solids that are useful for NIR optoelectronic applications.