{
  "abstract": "Short-wave infrared (SWIR) emitters underpin applications in communication, imaging and sensing, yet efficient, scalable devices remain limited. Colloidal InAs quantum dots (InAs CQDs) offer a compelling, cost-effective alternative to conventional epitaxial SWIR light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, developing heavy-metal-free InAs CQDs for emission beyond 1400 nm is hindered by lattice mismatch during core/shell growth, which degrades photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Furthermore, integrating CQDs into LEDs often introduces severe interfacial quenching and intrinsic charge imbalances. Here we report a highly efficient heavy-metal-free SWIR LED operating at 1525 nm, enabled by tailored injection strategies and oxidation-induced interfacial engineering. Optimized high-temperature ZnCl₂ treatment and continuous precursor injection improve shell nucleation and growth, while controlled interfacial oxidation is associated with reduced shell-thickness-dependent strain signatures and improved PLQY retention during shell thickening. Together, these strategies yield measured PLQYs exceeding 55% for emission beyond 1400 nm. Moreover, we demonstrate that incorporating a semiconducting InAs CQD interlayer effectively suppresses interfacial quenching and regulates electron over-injection. Combined with a doped hole-transport layer to reduce series resistance, our optimized devices achieve a maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.5% and a record radiance of ~17 W sr ⁻¹ m ⁻² , alongside a T50 operational lifetime of 16 h. Our findings suggest that integrating mechanism-driven shell growth with rational device engineering offers a strategy to overcome current bottlenecks in colloidal emitters, facilitating the transition toward short-wave infrared applications.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Taewan Kim",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0136-360X"
    },
    {
      "name": "Manuela De Franco",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7316-213X"
    },
    {
      "name": "Miguel Dosil"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jae Taek Oh",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3149-351X"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rajesh Bera"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marta Martos Valverde",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9898-7602"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gaurav Kumar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gerasimos Konstantatos",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7701-8127"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10r70v7j2k278.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-77896-0",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680504",
  "id": "10r70v7j2k278",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77896-0",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222981644",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77896-0.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13680504",
  "pmid": "42897179",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10r70v7j2k278.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41467-026-77896-0",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77896-0"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:32Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42897179",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897179"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Controlling the shell growth mechanism and interfacial oxidation of InAs/ZnSe quantum dots for shortwave infrared emission",
  "title_text": "Controlling the shell growth mechanism and interfacial oxidation of InAs/ZnSe quantum dots for shortwave infrared emission",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10r70v7j2k278",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}