The effect of PCl3 treatment on InP@ZnS quantum dots prepared by an HF free route

We propose a time resolved and contrast matching SANS experiment to establish the effect of PCl3 treatment on oleylamine/myristate-capped Indium Phosphide quantum dots (InP QDs) and to characterise the resulting shelled oleylamine-capped InP@ZnS QDs. PCl3 treatment leads to a clear enhancement in the quantum yield of these materials, but its role is unclear – it may be altering the InP core, the alkyl shell or both. Contrast-matching SANS measurements are well suited to this system, being able to separately visualise changes in the InP core and the alkyl shell. In--situ SANS is required as the treated InP QDs are unstable prior to shelling. While the experiment could run on any TS2 beamline, SANS2D is preferred for its high flux and low background crucial to the resolution of the mid-high Q region where more subtle changes in the alkyl shell structure may be observed.