Abstract: A method for stabilizing a quantum dot's emission spectrum, comprising: illuminating the quantum dot with an illumination fluence sufficient to effect a persistent reduction in blue-shift over time in the quantum dot's spectrum. A method, comprising discriminating between a first quantum dot and a second quantum dot on the basis of spectral stabilities of the first quantum dot and the second quantum dot. A method, comprising: illuminating a quantum dot with a first fluence so as to effect a first emission color from the quantum dot; and illuminating the quantum dot with a second fluence so as to effect a second emission color from the quantum dot, the first fluence and the second fluence differing in intensity. A spectrally-stabilized quantum dot, the spectrally-stabilized quantum dot exhibiting a spectral shift of less than about 2.5 meV over about 15 minutes of continuous operation.