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.
