Facile synthesis of colloidal InAs nanocrystals using triphenylarsine as an arsenic source

• Published in: Journal of crystal growth Vol. 405; pp. 39 - 43
• Main Authors: Uesugi, Hideo, Kita, Masao, Omata, Takahisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: A1. Nanostructures; Applied sciences; Arsenic; Asymptotic properties; B1. Inorganic compounds; B1. Nanomaterials; B2. Semiconducting III–V materials; B2. Semiconducting indium compounds; B3. Solar cells; Colloids; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Formations; Indium arsenides; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanocrystals; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Natural energy; Other materials; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Specific materials; Spectra; Synthesis; B1. Nanomaterials; B2. Semiconducting indium compounds; B1. Inorganic compounds; B3. Solar cells; B2. Semiconducting III–V materials; A1. Nanostructures; Inorganic compounds; Arsenic; Organometallic compounds; Nanostructures; B2. Semiconducting III-V materials; Quantum size effect; Induction period; Reaction mechanism; Absorption spectra; Nanocrystal; Nanomaterial synthesis; Solar cells; Temperature dependence; Reaction intermediates; Infrared spectra; Heat treatments; Indium arsenides; III-V compound; Arsine; Indium compounds; Nanostructured materials; III-V semiconductors
• ISSN: 0022-0248; 1873-5002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2014.07.037

Colloidal InAs nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized by heating an organometallic solution, containing triphenylarsine as the arsenic source. Because the triphenylarsine is quite stable in ambient conditions at room temperature, the reaction is easy to handle compared with conventional synthesis using tris(trimethylsilyl)arsine. The average size of InAs NCs obtained was varied in the range from 12nm to 20nm according to the reaction time, and their optical gap was larger than that of the bulk InAs because of quantum size effect. The reaction mechanism of InAs NCs formation was discussed based on the infrared absorption spectra of reaction solutions, and formation of a reaction intermediate was suggested during the long induction period, ≈80min, of InAs NCs formation. •Colloidal InAs nanocrystals were synthesized by heating an organometallic solution.•The solution contained stable triphenylarsine as the arsenic source.•The average size of InAs nanocrystals obtained was varied from 12nm to 20nm.•Widening of the optical gap due to quantum size effect was clearly observed.