Mid-Infrared HgTe Colloidal Quantum Dots In-Situ Passivated by Iodide

Abstract

Today, colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have received wide attention due to their properties of tunable infrared absorption. For example, HgTe colloidal quantum dots have shown excellent optical absorption (absorption coefficient α > 104 cm−1), spectral absorption tunability covering the entire infrared atmospheric window, and even the terahertz (THz). However, the efficient surface passivation of HgTe CQDs was limited by the highly sterically hindered long-chain organic ligands. Here, we demonstrate a new method to synthesize monodisperse mid-infrared HgTe CQDs, and the preparation process of the Hg precursor solution is optimized. With I− in-situ passivated on the surfaces, the spherical HgTe quantum dots are successfully synthesized with the tunability size from 8 to 15 nm. The noise current density of the photoconductive device is as low as 10−11 A·Hz−1/2 at 130 K with a frequency of 1 Hz.