Luminescence Mechanisms of Quaternary Zn-Ag-In-S Nanocrystals: ZnS:Ag, In or AgInS:Zn?

Highly emissive Zn-Ag-In-S nanocrystals have attracted attention as derivatives of I-III-VI-type nanocrystals without the use of toxic elements. The wide tunability of their luminescence wavelengths is attributed to the controllable bandgap of the solid solution between ZnS and AgInS. However, enhancement of the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL-QY) depending on the chemical composition has not been elucidated.