Noninjection, one-pot synthesis of Cu-deficient CuInS2/ZnS core/shell quantum dots and their fluorescent properties

► Cu-deficient CuInS2 QDs are synthesized by a noninjection approach. ► CuInS2/ZnS QDs exhibit an efficient yellow emission with a QY of ∼50%. ► An alternative radiative recombination in core/shell QDs is suggested.