Size-Controlled HgTe Nanocrystals Achieve Near-Unity Shortwave Infrared Emission
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, 607 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1569
- 2Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT, Politecnico di Torino, and INSTM Unit of Torino – Politecnico, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino, Italy, 10129
- 3Department of Chemistry
- 4University of California
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 .
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BibTeX
@misc{coffey2026sizecontrolled,
title = {{Size-Controlled HgTe Nanocrystals Achieve Near-Unity Shortwave Infrared Emission}},
author = {Belle Coffey and Eric Lin and Lorenzo Spollero and Skylar Whitley and Caleb Tuot-Pike and Sohan Jadhav and Hannah E. Ruffo and Alexandra Wright and Elijah Cook and Emily B. Mobley and Jillian Williams and Elise Skytte and Eugenia S. Vasileiadou and Francesca S. Freyria and Matt Law and Ellen M. Sletten and Justin R. Caram},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Size-Controlled HgTe Nanocrystals Achieve Near-Unity Shortwave Infrared Emission
AU - Belle Coffey
AU - Eric Lin
AU - Lorenzo Spollero
AU - Skylar Whitley
AU - Caleb Tuot-Pike
AU - Sohan Jadhav
AU - Hannah E. Ruffo
AU - Alexandra Wright
AU - Elijah Cook
AU - Emily B. Mobley
AU - Jillian Williams
AU - Elise Skytte
AU - Eugenia S. Vasileiadou
AU - Francesca S. Freyria
AU - Matt Law
AU - Ellen M. Sletten
AU - Justin R. Caram
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010280/v1
AB - 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 .
ER -