InAs nanocrystal quantum dots have been prepared via colloidal chemical synthesis using the reaction of InCl3and As[Si(CH3)3]3. Sizes ranging from 25 to 60 A˚ in diameter are produced and isolated with size distributions of ±10%–15% in diameter. The nanocrystals are crystalline and generally spherical with surfaces passivated by trioctylphosphine giving them solubility in common organic solvents. The dots have been structurally characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder x‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the optical absorption and emission have been examined. Quantum confinement effects are evident with absorption onsets well to the blue of the bulk band gap and size dependent absorption and emission features. The emission is dominated by band edge luminescence. These quantum dots are particularly interesting as they provide an opportunity to make important comparisons with comparably sized InAs quantum dots synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy techniques. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.