Colloidal Synthesis and Optical Properties of Nd-Containing Mixed-Halide CsPbBr3−γClγ Quantum Dots with λem ≈ 458 nm and PLQY ≈ 56%

This work reports the colloidal synthesis of Nd-containing mixed-halide perovskite quantum dots described as CsPb(Nd)Br3−γClγ, followed by post-synthetic surface modification with an acid-activated amino-functional siloxane. This notation is used deliberately because the available FE-SEM, DLS, EDX, and optical data confirm the formation of an Nd-containing mixed-halide colloidal perovskite system, but do not provide direct crystallographic proof of substitutional Nd3+ incorporation at the Pb2+ B-site. The obtained dispersions show stable blue emission with a maximum at about 458 nm, a photoluminescence quantum yield of about 56%, an essentially invariant emission maximum when the excitation wavelength is varied from 300 to 390 nm, and monoexponential decay kinetics with a characteristic lifetime of 6.67 ± 0.97 ns. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy combined with morphometric analysis of at least 150 particles indicates a nanoscale size distribution with an average equivalent diameter of 8.8 nm, a median of 7.3 nm, and 93.25% of particles smaller than 25 nm. Dynamic light scattering confirms a narrow hydrodynamic size distribution in the 7–9 nm range and a low polydispersity index. Elemental mapping by EDX confirms the co-presence of Cs, Pb, Br, Cl, and Nd in the analyzed particles. The observed blue shift is discussed in terms of the combined effect of chloride incorporation, nanoscale size, possible Nd-related perturbation of the local electronic/defect structure, and reduced non-radiative losses after surface passivation. No definitive crystallographic assignment of Nd to a specific lattice site is claimed; the composition is therefore treated as nominal, and the structural interpretation remains provisional pending XRD/XPS or related studies.