Tuning CuInSe2 Quantum Dots for Near-Infrared and Short-Wave Infrared Emission through Zinc and Silver Doping

I-III-VI chalcogenide CuInSe₂ (CISe) QDs with Zn and Ag doping as lead-free alternatives for infrared absorption/emission were investigated. We first studied the ZnS shell growth on CuInSe₂ (CISe) core QDs, achieving high-quality CISe/ZnS core/shell QDs with PLQY up to 90 % at 980 nm emission. By incorporating metal ions, the emission wavelengths could be tuned from 789 nm (Zn-CISe) to 1390 nm (Ag-CISe) in the short-wavelength infrared range. By overcoating with ZnS shell, the core/shell CISe/ZnS QDs enabled tunable emission from 766 to 1275 nm, showcasing intense fluorescence and advancing lead-free QDs for NIR applications.