In the reaction system for forming the shell, the content of the second sulfur precursor per 1 mol of indium may be greater than or equal to about 0 mole, greater than or equal to about 1 mole, greater than or equal to about 3 moles, greater than or equal to about 5 moles, greater than or equal to about 7 moles, greater than or equal to about 9 moles, greater than or equal to about and 10 moles, and less than or equal to about 9 moles, less than or equal to about 8 moles, less than or equal to about 7 moles, less than or equal to about 6 moles, less than or equal to about 5 moles, less than or equal to about 4 moles, less than or equal to about 3 moles, or less than or equal to about 2 moles.
The addition of a nonsolvent to the prepared final reaction solution may allow nanocrystals coordinated with the organic ligands to be separated (e.g. precipitated). The nonsolvent may be a polar solvent that is miscible with the solvent used in the reaction and nanocrystals are not dispersible therein. The nonsolvent may be selected depending on the solvent used in the reaction and may be for example, acetone, ethanol, butanol, isopropanol, ethanediol, water, tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), diethylether, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, a solvent having a similar solubility parameter to the foregoing solvents, or a combination thereof. The separation may be performed through a centrifugation, precipitation, chromatography, or distillation. The separated nanocrystals may be added to the washing solvent and then washed as needed. The washing solvent is not particularly limited, and a solvent having a solubility parameter similar to that of the organic solvent or ligand may be used. Non-solvents or washing solvents include alcohol; alkane solvents such as hexane, heptane, and octane; chloroform; aromatic solvents such as toluene and benzene; or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.