{
  "abstract": "The near-infrared (NIR, 700-1000 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1000-2000 nm) regions of light are privileged for optoelectronic applications due to the decreased scattering and diminished autofluorescence arising from the few natural chromophores which absorb or emit in these windows. We demonstrate a two-stage, size-resolved synthesis of spherical HgTe quantum dots (QDs) with narrowband photoluminescence tunable across the NIR and SWIR which combine exceptionally high photoluminescence quantum yields (QY > 80%), low polydispersity (<10%), and stability in air. Using this synthetic control, we determine the size-dependent bandgap and molar extinction coefficients of HgTe under extreme confinement, and show conclusively that separating nucleation from growth — via a fast injection followed by a slow one — suppresses Ostwald ripening. Post-synthetic incubation with zinc salts further improves optical stability, pushing QY to near unity across the SWIR, including at telecom-relevant wavelengths. We then formulate water-soluble HgTe QD micelles as contrast agents for in vivo mouse imaging in the SWIR, achieving 100 frame/s video-rate imaging above 1400 nm with contrast and temporal resolution that substantially exceed those of indocyanine green. Together, these results establish that even without a protective shell, HgTe QDs offer a near-optimal, air-stable platform for optoelectronic applications at telecom-relevant wavelengths .",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 607 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1569",
    "Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT, Politecnico di Torino, and INSTM Unit of Torino – Politecnico, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy, 10129",
    "Department of Chemistry",
    "University of California"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 17,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Belle Coffey"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric Lin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lorenzo Spollero"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Skylar Whitley"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Caleb Tuot-Pike"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sohan Jadhav"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hannah E. Ruffo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Wright"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elijah Cook"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emily B. Mobley"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jillian Williams"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elise Skytte"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eugenia S. Vasileiadou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Francesca S. Freyria"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Matt Law"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ellen M. Sletten"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Justin R. Caram"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bj8mbm75k00ma.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "bj8mbm75k00ma",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221503720",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bj8mbm75k00ma.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Size-Controlled HgTe Nanocrystals Achieve Near-Unity Shortwave Infrared Emission",
  "title_text": "Size-Controlled HgTe Nanocrystals Achieve Near-Unity Shortwave Infrared Emission",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bj8mbm75k00ma",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}