Surface Chemistry and Quantum Dot Luminescence: Shell Growth, Atomistic Modification, and Beyond

Quantum dots are used in the research laboratory and in commercial applications for their bright, size-tunable luminescence. While empirical synthesis and processing optimization have led to many quantum dot systems with photoluminescence quantum yields at or approaching 100%, our understanding of the chemical principles that underlie this performance and our ability to access such materials on demand have lagged. In this Perspective, we present the status of our understanding of the connections between surface chemistry and quantum dot luminescence. We follow the historical arc that began with shell growth, which then led to an atomistic description of surface-derived charge trapping, and finally has brought us to a more nuanced picture of the role of surface chemistry in luminescence properties, including emerging concepts like surface dipoles and vibronic coupling.