Post-systhesis modification of colloidal nanocrystals

A method for size and/or shape modification of colloidal nanocrystals, comprising:

• providing nanocrystals having a first size and a first shape;
• modifying the size and/or shape of the nanocrystals in a reaction mixture under an inert-gas atmosphere at a temperature in a range from about room temperature to about 240° C., wherein the reaction mixture includes the nanocrystals, at least one solvent, and at least one ligand;
• monitoring the modification of the nanocrystals in the reaction mixture using at least one of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy, and/or transmission electron microscopy;
• and
• stopping the reaction and purifying the nanocrystals from the reaction mixture when the nanocrystals achieve a selected second size and/or a second shape.

A method for post-synthesis modification of colloidal nanocrystals, comprising:

• providing a plurality of nanocrystals having a first size and a first shape;
• forming a reaction mixture, including:
• the plurality of nanocrystals, at least one inert solvent, and at least one ligand, wherein the nanocrystals and the ligand are added in a molar ratio that ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:1.1010;
• conditioning the reaction mixture by first stirring under vacuum at ambient temperature and second by stirring under a vacuum at a temperature in a range from about 50° C. to about 100° C.;
• adding an inert-gas to the reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature in a range from about 100° C. to about 300° C.;
• and
• modifying the size and/or shape of the nanocrystals by selectively dissolving the nanocrystals so as to have a second size and shape, wherein the selective dissolving includes maintaining the temperature, stirring, and the inert gas atmosphere of the reaction mixture for a period of time of at least about 1 minute.