title: Surface processes during purification of InP quantum dots.
abstract: Recently, a new simple and fast method for the synthesis of InP quantum dots by using phosphine as phosphorous precursor and myristic acid as surface stabilizer was reported. Purification after synthesis is necessary to obtain samples with good optical properties. Two methods of purification were compared and the surface processes which occur during purification were studied. Traditional precipitation with acetone is accompanied by a small increase in photoluminescence. It occurs that during the purification the hydrolysis of the indium precursor takes place, which leads to a better surface passivation. The electrophoretic purification technique does not increase luminescence efficiency but yields very pure quantum dots in only a few minutes. Additionally, the formation of In(OH)3 during the low temperature synthesis was explained. Purification of quantum dots is a very significant part of postsynthetical treatment that determines the properties of the material. But this subject is not sufficiently discussed in the literature. The paper is devoted to the processes that occur at the surface of quantum dots during purification. A new method of purification, electrophoresis, is investigated and described in particular.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mordvinova
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinokurov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorofeev
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation ; Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Artem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abakumov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
keywords: cadmium-free material; electrophoresis; luminescence; precipitation; purification; quantum dots; semiconductors