On the Synthesis of Novel AgInZn2Te4 Quantum Dots Employing a Green Route

We report the synthesis of novel quaternary AgInZn2Te4 quantum dots (QDs) utilizing organometallic hot injection procedures. By using octadecene and oleylamine as the coordinating solvents and dodecanethiol as the capping ligand, we could arrive at a phosphine-free "green route " for the synthesis. Detailed characterizations were performed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy for the structural, compositional, and optical analyses. The nanostructures were spherical, monodisperse, highly crystalline with cubic structure, and having an average diameter of 6.5 +/- 0.5nm with optical features in the visible region.