Facile synthesis of Cu–In–Zn–S alloyed nanocrystals with temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra

•A new strategy for Cu–In–Zn–S nanocrystals with tunable photoluminescence spectra.•Excellent fluorescence properties and high crystallinity of all the nanocrystals.•New discovery of mechanism: the filling of vacancy sites related to Cu-defects.

A facile strategy has been developed for the synthesis of highly luminescent Cu–In–Zn–S (CIZS) quaternary alloyed nanocrystals. The photoluminescence emission wavelength could be tuned from 520 nm to 700 nm only by varying the diffusion temperature, and an up to 76% of quantum yield was obtained after coating with the ZnS shell. The results of high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction demonstrated the small particle size (2.5 nm), high crystallinity and alloyed structure of all the CIZS NCs. The photoluminescence mechanism of CIZS NCs before and after ZnS coating was also investigated by analyzing the PL decay curves.

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