Rare-Earth Sulfide Nanocrystals from Wet Colloidal Synthesis: Tunable Compositions, Size-Dependent Light Absorption, and Sensitized Rare-Earth Luminescence.

We report the synthesis of colloidal EuS, LaS, and LaS nanocrystals between 150 and 255 °C using rare-earth iodides in oleylamine. The sulfur source dictates phase selection between LaS and LaS, which are stabilized for the first time as colloidal nanocrystals. The indirect bandgap absorption of LaS shifts from 635 nm for nanoellipsoids to 365 nm for square-based nanoplates.

Efficient photoluminescence of isotropic rare-earth oxychloride nanocrystals from a solvothermal route.

Eu3+-doped sub-10 nm LaOCl nanocrystals with 43% photoluminescence quantum yield were prepared by solvothermal synthesis from hydrated rare-earth chlorides. As-obtained nanocrystals are nearly spherical, monodisperse and stable as colloidal dispersions. These combined features should intensify the interest for nanocrystalline rare-earth oxyhalides and their optical properties.

Plasmon-induced hot electron transfer in AgNW@TiO@AuNPs nanostructures.

Compared to the limited absorption cross-section of conventional photoactive TiO nanoparticles (NPs), plasmonic metallic nanoparticles can efficiently convert photons from an extended spectrum range into energetic carriers because of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Using these metal oxide semiconductors as shells for plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) that absorb visible light could extend their applications. The photophysics of such systems is performed using transient absorption measurements and steady extinction simulations and shows that the plasmonic energy transfer from the AgNWs core to the TiO shell results from a hot carrier injection process.

Phonon Scattering and Electron Doping by 2D Structural Defects in In/ZnO.

In/ZnO bulk compounds have been synthesized using a simple solid-state process. In this study, both the structural features and thermoelectric properties of the ZnInO series with ultralow indium content (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) have been studied.