The present invention provides nanoparticles having a core/shell structure
consisting of a core comprising a Group III element and a Group V element
at a molar ratio of the Group III element to the Group V element in the
range of 1.25 to 3.0, and a shell comprising a Group II element and a
Group VI element and having a thickness of 0.2 nm to 4 nm, the
nanoparticles having a photoluminescence efficiency of 10% or more and a
diameter of 2.5 to 10 nm; a method of producing the water-dispersible
nanoparticles comprising bringing a dispersion of III-V semiconductor
nanoparticles in an organic solvent into contact with an aqueous solution
of a Group II element-containing compound and a Group VI
element-containing compound to thereby transfer the III-V semiconductor
nanoparticles of the organic solvent dispersion to the aqueous solution,
and then irradiating the aqueous solution with light; and a method of
producing a glass matrix having the nanoparticles dispersed therein.
The present invention provides III-V semiconductor nanoparticles having a
high photoluminescence efficiency in an aqueous solution, and a method of
producing the nanoparticles. The invention further provides a fluorescent
material with high PL efficiency containing the III-V semiconductor
nanoparticles retained in a glass matrix, a method of producing the
fluorescent material, and a light-emitting device containing the
fluorescent material.