Synthesis of widely tunable and highly luminescent zinc nitride nanocrystals

Zinc nitride nanocrystals have been prepared from the reaction between ammonia and diethylzinc at 225 °C. The peak photoluminescence wavelength can be tuned from below 500 nm to above 1100 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields greater than 50% have been measured. TEM and XRD analysis confirm the formation of Zn3N2 nanocrystals.