Microwave Synthetic Route for Highly Emissive TOP/TOP-S Passivated CdS Quantum Dots

Through selective microwave absorption, we demonstrate the ability to activate TOPS as an efficient sulfur donor, allowing the rapid (18 m) growth of highly emissive (PLQY = 33%), Zn blende CdS quantum dots (QDs) passivated by TOP/TOPS in the 4−6 nm size regime (5% size dispersity). The CdS QDs exhibit sharp absorption features and bandedge photoluminescence even for the largest CdS sample. Addition of hexadecylamine restricts the growth rate by limiting the Cd monomer activity and lowers overall PLQY. The use of MW chemistry for QD formation allows a highly reproducible synthetic protocol that is fully adaptable to industrial applications.