Ga for Zn Cation Exchange Allows for Highly Luminescent and Photostable InZnP-Based Quantum Dots.

In this work, we demonstrate that a preferential Ga-for-Zn cation exchange is responsible for the increase in photoluminescence that is observed when gallium oleate is added to InZnP alloy QDs. By exposing InZnP QDs with varying Zn/In ratios to gallium oleate and monitoring their optical properties, composition, and size, we conclude that Ga preferentially replaces Zn, leading to the formation of InZnP/InGaP core/graded-shell QDs. This cation exchange reaction results in a large increase of the QD photoluminescence, but only for InZnP QDs with Zn/In ≥ 0.

Tuning the Lattice Parameter of InxZnyP for Highly Luminescent Lattice-Matched Core/Shell Quantum Dots.

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) show great promise as LED phosphors due to their tunable narrow-band emission and ability to produce high-quality white light. Currently, the most suitable QDs for lighting applications are based on cadmium, which presents a toxicity problem for consumer applications. The most promising cadmium-free candidate QDs are based on InP, but their quality lags much behind that of cadmium based QDs.

Conformal and atomic characterization of ultrathin CdSe platelets with a helical shape.

Currently, ultrathin colloidal CdSe semiconductor nanoplatelets (NPLs) with a uniform thickness that is controllable up to the atomic scale can be prepared. The optical properties of these 2D semiconductor systems are the subject of extensive research. Here, we reveal their natural morphology and atomic arrangement.

Self-assembled CdSe/CdS nanorod sheets studied in the bulk suspension by magnetic alignment.

We studied spontaneously self-assembled aggregates in a suspension of CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods (NRs). The influence of the length and concentration of the NRs and the suspension temperature on the size of the aggregates was investigated using in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and linear dichroism (LD) measurements under high magnetic fields (up to 30 T). The SAXS patterns reveal the existence of crystalline 2-dimensional sheets of ordered NRs with an unusually large distance between the rods.

Observation of the full exciton and phonon fine structure in CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod heteronanocrystals.

Light emission of semiconductor nanocrystals is a complex process, depending on many factors, among which are the quantum mechanical size confinement of excitons (coupled electron-hole pairs) and the influence of confined phonon modes and the nanocrystal surface. Despite years of research, the nature of nanocrystal emission at low temperatures is still under debate. Here we unravel the different optical recombination pathways of CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod systems that show an unprecedented number of narrow emission lines upon resonant laser excitation.

Reduced Auger recombination in single CdSe/CdS nanorods by one-dimensional electron delocalization.

Progress to reduce nonradiative Auger decay in colloidal nanocrystals has recently been made by growing thick shells. However, the physics of Auger suppression is not yet fully understood. Here, we examine the dynamics and spectral characteristics of single CdSe-dot-in-CdS-rod nanocrystals.

Calibrating and controlling the quantum efficiency distribution of inhomogeneously broadened quantum rods by using a mirror ball.

We demonstrate that a simple silver coated ball lens can be used to accurately measure the entire distribution of radiative transition rates of quantum dot nanocrystals. This simple and cost-effective implementation of Drexhage's method that uses nanometer-controlled optical mode density variations near a mirror, not only allows an extraction of calibrated ensemble-averaged rates, but for the first time also to quantify the full inhomogeneous dispersion of radiative and non radiative decay rates across thousands of nanocrystals. We apply the technique to novel ultrastable CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod emitters.

Semiconductor nanorod self-assembly at the liquid/air interface studied by in situ GISAXS and ex situ TEM.

We study the self-assembly of colloidal CdSe/CdS nanorods (NRs) at the liquid/air interface combining time-resolved in situ grazing-incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and ex situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our study shows that NR superstructure formation occurs at the liquid/air interface. Short NRs self-assemble into micrometers long tracks of NRs lying side by side flat on the surface.

High-temperature luminescence quenching of colloidal quantum dots.

Thermal quenching of quantum dot (QD) luminescence is important for application in luminescent devices. Systematic studies of the quenching behavior above 300 K are, however, lacking. Here, high-temperature (300-500 K) luminescence studies are reported for highly efficient CdSe core-shell quantum dots (QDs), aimed at obtaining insight into temperature quenching of QD emission.