Laser‐Induced Size‐Focusing Synthesis of High‐Quality Colloidal Quantum Dots

Y Yu‐Zhuo Zhang (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) C Chong Zhang (School of Chemistry) B Bo Li R Rui‐Xiang Liu (Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance and School of Physical Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) Y Yi‐Da Zhang (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) Z Zhen‐Chao Shao (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) L Li‐Min Liu (School of Physics Beihang University Beijing China) G Guo‐Qiang Liu (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) L Liang Wu X Xu‐Sheng Zheng (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China) Y Yi Li S Shu‐Hong Yu (New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China)

Abstract

Abstract Laser‐assisted chemical synthesis has emerged as a promising toolkit for producing unconventional nanomaterials otherwise not readily accessible. However, it remains challenging for the high‐precision laser‐assisted photoetching of colloidal quantum dots (QDs). Here, we report a laser‐assisted atom‐by‐atom photoetching process that post‐synthetically enables the state‐of‐the‐art colloidal CdSe QDs. By deciphering the surface chemistry and ultrafast excitonic dynamics, we provide an atomic‐level activation–coordination coupling mechanism in such exciton‐involved photochemical reactions. In situ spectroscopies further reveal the reaction kinetics as a four‐step size‐focusing process that is highly dependent on the laser wavelength. As such, by modulating the laser wavelength, which dictates the excitonic absorption threshold of final QDs, we are capable of retrosynthetically programming their sizes across a wide quantum‐confined regime, thereby achieving an ultrabroad color gamut. These findings offer a guideline for the laser‐assisted retrosynthesis of high‐quality quantum‐confined materials.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 5
Published January 28, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

Y

Yu‐Zhuo Zhang

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

C

Chong Zhang

School of Chemistry

B

Bo Li

R

Rui‐Xiang Liu

Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance and School of Physical Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

Y

Yi‐Da Zhang

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

Z

Zhen‐Chao Shao

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

L

Li‐Min Liu

School of Physics Beihang University Beijing China

G

Guo‐Qiang Liu

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

L

Liang Wu

X

Xu‐Sheng Zheng

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

Y

Yi Li

S

Shu‐Hong Yu

New Cornerstone Science Laboratory Department of Chemistry Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China