Silver telluride (Ag2Te) quantum dots (QDs) are promising infrared semiconductors due to their environmentally friendly

composition and tunable optical properties in the near-infrared II region. However, conventional Te precursors, such as Te

dissolved in trioctylphosphine (TOP), often result in inconsistent growth dynamics, leading to poor size uniformity and

reproducibility due to their high reactivity. In this study, we present tris(dimethylamino)phosphine ((DMA)3P) as a reliable

alternative Te precursor for the controlled synthesis of Ag2Te QDs. QDs synthesized with trioctylphosphine telluride

(TOP-Te) exhibited rapid monomer depletion, driven by the precursor’s fast reactivity, resulting in inconsistent growth

dominated by Ostwald ripening and surface dissolution. This instability hindered size uniformity and optical performance.

In contrast, QDs synthesized with tris (dimethylamino) phosphine telluride ((DMA)3P-Te) demonstrated slow and controlled

Te release, attributed to the stronger P-Te bond and the enhanced electron-donating ability of the dimethylamino

groups. This gradual release minimized nucleation events and promoted a growth-dominated reaction pathway, resulting

in QDs with uniform size distribution and enhanced optical stability. These findings underscore the importance of Te

precursor chemistry in achieving precise control over QD growth and highlight the advantages of (DMA)3P-Te as an

alternative to TOP-Te.