A plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles having an elementally passivated surface
are provided. These nanoparticles are capable of being suspended in water without
substantial agglomeration and substantial precipitation on container surfaces for
at least 30 days. The method of making the semiconductor nanoparticles includes
reacting at least a first reactant and a second reactant in a solution to form
the semiconductor nanoparticles in the solution. A first reactant provides a passivating
element which binds to dangling bonds on a surface of the nanoparticles to passivate
the surface of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticle size can be tuned by etching
the nanoparticles located in the solution to a desired size.
