Using ligands to control reactivity, size and phase in the colloidal synthesis of WSe2 nanocrystals.

Colloidal chemistry is leveraged for size- and phase-tuning of transition metal dichalcogenide nanomaterials. Specifically, nucleation and growth of colloidal WSe2 nanocrystals are controlled via mixtures of oleic acid (OA) and trioctylphosphine oxide. Increased OA yields slower nucleation, larger nanocrystals and a shift from the 2H to 1T' phase.