Tuning Heavy-Pnictogen Precursor Reactivity in III–V Quantum Dot Synthesis Using Metal–Carbanion Chemistry
Hyoin Kim a, Meeree Kim a, Doeun Shim a, Sebastian Sabisch b, Eunji Jang a, Mahnmin Choi a, Seongmin Park a, Yaolong Xing c, Sang Ho Oh c, Maksym Kovalenko b d, Sohee Jeong a e
a Department of Energy Science and Center for Artificial Atoms, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
b Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
c Department of Energy Engineering and Institute for Energy Materials and Devices, Korea Institute of Energy Technology, Naju 58330, Republic of Korea
d Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
e Sungkyunkwan Institute of Energy Science and Technology (SIEST), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
Proceedings of Emerging Light Emitting Materials 2026 (EMLEM26)
Kallithea, Greece, 2026 September 20th - 23rd
Organizers: Maryna Bodnarchuk, Grigorios Itskos and Maksym Kovalenko
Poster, Meeree Kim, 057
Publication date: 8th July 2026

The synthesis of III–V colloidal quantum dots involving heavy-pnictogen precursors is often complicated by their difficult-to-control reactivity, particularly when highly reactive hydride reducing agents are employed. Here, we use metal–carbanion complexes to modulate the reduction chemistry of arsenic- and antimony-based precursors under mild conditions. Structural and spectroscopic studies indicate a temperature-dependent, amine-mediated reduction process in which the carbanion basicity determines the extent of pnictogen reduction, while the associated metal cation independently alters the redox environment through competitive co-reduction. This interplay provides access to intermediate oxidation states of the pnictogens while allowing partial incorporation of the metal cations into the quantum dot lattice, resulting in p-type doping. By independently tuning the chemical roles of the carbanion and metal cation, this strategy provides a flexible route to regulate heavy-pnictogen precursor conversion without relying on conventional strong-hydride reduction, broadening the available chemistry for the synthesis and compositional control of III–V colloidal semiconductors.

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