Colloidal semiconductor
quantum dots are a well-established technology,
with numerous materials available either commercially or through the
vast body of literature. The prevalent materials are cadmium-based
and are unlikely to find general acceptance in most applications.
While the III–V family of materials is a likely substitute,
issues remain about its long-term suitability, and other earth-abundant
materials are being explored. In this report, we highlight a nanoscale
half-Heusler semiconductor, LiZnN, composed of readily available elements
as a potential alternative system to luminescent II–VI and
III–V nanoparticle quantum dots.