Interface polarization in heterovalent core-shell nanocrystals

The potential profile and the energy level offset of core–shell heterostructured nanocrystals (h-NCs) determine the photophysical properties and the charge transport characteristics of h-NC solids. However, limited material choices for heavy metal-free III-V–II-VI h-NCs pose challenges in comprehensive control of the potential profile. Herein, we present an approach to such a control by steering dipole densities at the interface of III-V–II-VI h-NCs. The controllable heterovalency at the interface is responsible for interfacial dipole densities that result in the vacuum-level shift, providing an additional knob for the control of optical and electrical characteristics of h-NCs. The synthesis of h-NCs with atomic precision allows us to correlate interfacial dipole moments with the NCs’ photochemical stability and optoelectronic performance. Controlled synthesis of heterostructured III-V–II-VI nanocrystals shows that dipole moments formed at the core–shell interface can tune the optoelectronic properties of these nanomaterials and their performance in light-emitting devices.