Tuning Optical Activity of IV–VI Colloidal Quantum Dots in the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Spectral Regime

The achievement of tunable optical properties across a wide spectral range, along with an efficient surface passivation of lead chalcogenide (PbSe) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs), has significant importance for scientific research and for technological applications. This paper describes two comprehensive pathways to tune optical activities of PbSe CQDs in the near-infrared (NIR, 0.75–1.4 μm) and the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1.4–3 μm) ranges. A one-pot procedure enabled the growth of relatively large PbSe CQDs (with average sizes up to 14 nm) exploiting programmable temperature control during the growth process. These CQDs showed optical activity up to 3.2 μm. In addition, PbSe/PbS core/shell CQDs prepared by an orderly injection rate led to an energy red-shift of the absorption edge with the increase of the shell thickness, whereas a postannealing treatment further extended the band-edge energy toward the SWIR regime. A better chemical stability of the CQDs with respect to that of PbSe core CQDs was attained by shelling of PbSe by epitaxial layers of PbS, but limited to a short duration (<1 day). However, air stability of the relatively large PbSe as well as the PbSe/PbS CQDs over a prolonged period of time (weeks) was achieved after a postsynthesis chlorination treatment.