Publication date: 15th December 2025
Understanding the mechanisms underlying structural transformations in colloidal quantum dots is essential for optimizing their optical and electronic functionalities, which are inherently dictated by nanoscale structure and composition. In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has recently enabled direct visualization of dynamic processes in real time, offering unprecedented insights into how nanocrystals respond to external stimuli. In this talk, I will highlight three representative transformation pathways revealed through advanced in-situ TEM analyses. First, moisture-induced degradation of quantum-sized II–VI semiconductor nanocrystals is shown to proceed via well-defined amorphous intermediates, wherein adsorbed water molecules disrupt surface passivation, induce defect generation, and progressively destabilize the lattice.[1] Secondly, I will examine water-driven decomposition in metal halide perovskite nanocrystals, demonstrating how hydration initiates rapid lattice deformation, and facilitates their transition toward disordered and decomposed states.[2] Finally, I will present direct observations of off-stoichiometry–induced phase transitions in 2D CdSe quantum nanosheets, where subtle deviations from ideal composition lower the energy barrier for structural reorganization and drive the transformation from hexagonal wurtzite to cubic zinc blende phases.[3] Together, these findings establish a unified framework for environment- and composition-driven structural evolution in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals and provide design principles for engineering more robust nanomaterials for next-generation optoelectronic applications.
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00402972 and RS-2024-00406548).
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