Research Theme 1:
Precision Synthesis
Research Theme 1: Precision Synthesis
Research Theme 1 (RT-1) includes the teams that are developing new chemical reactions to synthesize the building blocks that make up the next generation of optoelectronic devices.
Transforming optical technologies with colloidal quantum dots begins with synthesizing novel materials that have superior performance and can be easily handled and incorporated into devices and applications. Members of RT-1 are advancing the fundamental science underpinning colloidal semiconductors.
Combining multi-level theory and experimentation the team engaged in RT-1 are innovating techniques to control the precision synthesis of colloidal materials and their surfaces to produce quantum dots with advanced combinations of color purity (linewidth), stability, brightness, and processability from ensembles down to single dot precision.
RT-1’s collaboration with RT-2 revolves around the design of new materials that enable accurate and reliable placement of the new materials in device architectures. RT-1’s collaboration with RT-3 uses the feedback from device engineers to innovate on new materials that have properties desired in new device structures.
Find out more about the IMOD members participating in RT-1 research, and check out some of the recent RT-1 publications.
RT-1 Research Groups

Faculty | Associate Director of Communications | RT2 Deputy Director
Correa-Baena Group

Faculty | Associate Director for Research | RT1 Lead
Cossairt Group

Faculty
Dukovic Group

Faculty
Gamelin Group

Faculty
Jonas Group

Faculty | RT1 Deputy Lead
Kanatzidis Group

Faculty | Deputy Director
Marder Group

Faculty
Mohite Group

Faculty
Murray Group

Faculty
Owen Group

Faculty
Talapin Group

Faculty
Toney Group
Recent RT-1 Publications

Structural Homology Allows Alloyed II–V Magic-Sized Clusters with Continuously Tunable Emission
Journal American Chemical Society, 2026, 148, 34, 37376–37387
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6c12508

A Standardized Platform for QLED Fabrication and Characterization
Chem. Mater. (2026) 38 (15): 7534–7548
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.6c01124

Ammonia pressure controls colloidal metal nitride synthesis in molten salts
Nature, 2026, 655, 1174–1179
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10801-3

Discovering Quantum Confinement in a Safe and Convenient Synthesis of Lead Halide Perovskite Quantum Dots
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION 2026, 103, 6, 3294–3301
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01361

Ammoniate Intermediates Enable Tunable Biphasic Molten Salt/Organic Synthesis of Colloidal GaN Nanocrystals
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS 2026, 38, 8, 4017–4028
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5c03186

Trion Formation Hampers Single Quantum Dot Performance in Silane-Coated FAPbBr3 Quantum Dots
NANO LETTERS 2026, 26, 14, 4855–4865
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c00643