Electronic energy transfer between long-range resonance states of 3-mercaptopropionic acid capped CdTe quantum dots in aqueous media

We demonstrate electronic energy transfer between resonance states of 2 and 2.8?nm CdTe quantum dots in aqueous media using steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy without using any external linker molecule. With increasing concentration of larger dots, there is subsequent quenching of luminescence in smaller dots accompanied by the enhancement of luminescence in larger dots. Our experimental evidence suggests that there is long-range resonance energy transfer among electronic excitations, specifically from the electronically confined states of the smaller dots to the higher excited states of the larger dots.     

Nonradiative resonance energy transfer between two semiconductor quantum dots

We consider the nonradiative resonance energy transfer between two semiconductor quantum dots (donor and acceptor), taking into account the nonparabolicity of the electron dispersion law, and the energy transfer due to the Coulomb interaction between charge carriers of the donor and acceptor. We show that, when nonparabolicity of the dispersion law is taken into account, a new term enters the matrix element of the energy transfer, which enhances the probability of the resonance energy transfer.     

Quantum routing of surface plasmons by two quantum dots

The quantum routing of single surface plasmons in a system with two metal nanowires coupled to a pair of quantum dots is investigated theoretically. Real-space Hamiltonians are utilized to obtain the surface-plasmon routing probabilities scattered by two quantum dots in four ports of two nanowire waveguides. Numerical results show that the routing capability of the surface plasmons transmitted from the input channel into another channel can be significantly enhanced, by properly adjusting the interdot distance and the dot-plasmon couplings. Moreover, multi-peak Fano-like resonances are exhibited in the scattering spectra due to the quadratic dispersion relations of the nanowire waveguides. Therefore, the proposed double-dot configuration may provide potential applications in controlling the surface-plasmon routing and Fano-like resonance.     

应变GaN量子点中激子态的研究

利用有效质量方法和变分原理,考虑内建电场效应和量子点的三维约束效应,研究了约束在GaN/AlxGa1-xN圆柱形量子点中的激子特性与量子点的结构参数以及势垒层中Al含量之间的关系.结果表明:对给定大小的量子点,随其高度的增加激子结合能出现一最大值,此时载流子被最有效的约束在量子点内;内建电场使量子点的有效带隙减小,电子、空穴产生明显分离,从而影响量子点的光学性质.理论计算的光跃迁能和实验结果一致.     

MBE grown InGaN quantum dots and quantum wells: effects of in-plane localization

InGaN/GaN heterostructure samples were grown by molecular beam epitaxy using ammonia as a nitrogen precursor. The growth of InGaN/GaN self-assembled quantum dots was monitored in situ by reflection high energy electron diffraction intensity oscillations. Atomic force microscopy scans showed a very high density of InGaN islands, 1×10¹¹ cm⁻², well above the dislocation density. This could explain the increased radiative efficiency of these samples compared to homogeneous quantum wells. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) with InGaN active layers buried in GaN were realized. Electroluminescence and photocurrent spectra of these LEDs evidence a strong Stokes shift that can be attributed to high localization of carriers in InGaN layers.     

Enhancement of discord and entanglement with detuning for two coupled quantum dots in a driven cavity

We study the quantum discord for a system of two identical coupled quantum dots interacting with quantized cavity field in the presence of cavity as well as dot decay and detuning. The cavity is externally driven by a coherent light. These results are compared with the entanglement of the quantum dots in various parameter regimes in which system may or may not show bistability. We show that the discord in the steady state is nonzero for any nonzero cavity field amplitude. The system has higher discord in the upper branch of the bistability curve where the entanglement is zero. We also find many other interesting results including high discord and entanglement in the presence of detuning, a phenomenon which we further examine by approximating the density matrix in the appropriate limit.     

Semiconductor quantum dots: Theory and phenomenology

Research in semiconductor quantum dots (q-dots) has burgeoned in the past decade. The size (R) of these q-dots ranges from 1 to 100 nm. Based on the theoretical calculations, we propose energy and length scales which help in clarifying the physics of this mesoscopic system. Some of these length scales are: the Bohr exciton radius (α_B*), the carrier de Broglie and diffusion length (λ_D andl _D), the polaron radius (α_p), and the reduction factor modulating the optical matrix element (M _x).R<α_B is an individual particle confinement regime, whereas the larger ones are exciton confinement regime wherein Coulomb interaction play an important role. Similarly a size-dependent dielectric constantε(R) should be used forR<α_p<α_B. An examination ofM _x reveals that an indirect gap material q-dot behaves as a direct gap material in the limit of very small dot size. We have carried out effective mass theory (EMT) calculations to estimate the charge density on the surface of the quantum dot. We present tight binding (TB) calculation to show that the energy upshift scales as 1/R ^x, wherex is less than 2 and the exponent depends on the orientation of the crystallite.     

Fabrication of photoactive heterostructures based on quantum dots decorated with Au nanoparticles

Silica based multifunctional heterostructures, exhibiting near infrared (NIR) absorption (650–1200 nm) and luminescence in the visible region, represent innovative nanosystems useful for diagnostic or theranostic applications. Herein, colloidal synthetic procedures are applied to design a photoactive multifunctional nanosystem. Luminescent silica (SiO₂) coated quantum dots (QDs) have been used as versatile nanoplatforms to assemble on their surface gold (Au) seeds, further grown into Au spackled structures. The synthesized nanostructures combine the QD emission in the visible region, and, concomitantly, the distinctive NIR absorption of Au nanodomains. The possibility of having multiple QDs in a single heterostructure, the SiO₂ shell thickness, and the extent of Au deposition onto SiO₂ surface have been carefully controlled. The work shows that a single QD entrapped in 16 nm thick SiO₂ shell, coated with Au speckles, represents the most suitable geometry to preserve the QD emission in the visible region and to generate NIR absorption from metal NPs. The resulting architectures present a biomedical potential as an effective optical multimodal probes and as promising therapeutic agents due to the Au NP mediated photothermal effect.     

CdTe quantum dots accelerate the speed of Pfu-based polymerase chain reaction

It has not been previously reported that the speed of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be accelerated by quantum dots (QDs). In the present work, the addition of cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs resulted in significant time-saving compared with the conventional PCR. The reaction time could be significantly shortened from 143 to 46 min without compromising the general efficiency in a PCR. CdTe QD-facilitated fast PCR also displayed excellent hot-start effects.     

Hydrothermal synthesis for high-quality CdTe quantum dots capped by cysteamine

We present a facile hydrothermal approach to synthesize high-quality cysteamine (CA)-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs). Oil bath heating and vigorous stirring were used to obtain better heat transfer and more homogenous solutions during the synthesis process. By this approach, the quantum yield (QY) of the resultant QDs can reach as high as 19.7%, which is the best reported data for CA-stabilized CdTe QDs. The synthesis process is under a high concentration of the precursor (> 10 mM), suggesting the potential of this route to be used in mass production of CA-capped CdTe QDs. Moreover, the pH-dependent optical properties of CA-capped CdTe QDs were also investigated.     

碳量子点的一步合成及其发光性质的研究

本文采用油浴加热柠檬酸一步法合成碳量子点,用HRTEM透射电镜和FTIR红外光谱对其形貌和结构进行表征。研究该碳量子点的荧光性质,初步探讨了其发光的可能机理。实验结果表明,该方法合成的碳量子点粒径大小为3~5 nm,在360 nm处有一个很强的紫外吸收峰,最大激发波长和发射波长分别为365 nm和460 nm,其光学稳定性良好,在pH5.0~7.0范围内,碳量子点的荧光强度随pH的变化比较敏感。     

UV-enhanced toxicity of water-stable quantum dots in human pancreatic carcinoma cells

Zn-based (capped with thioglycolic acid (TGA) or 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)) and Cd-based quantum dots (QDs) (capped with TGA or L-glutathione), were synthesised and used to investigate their cytotoxicity to human pancreatic carcinoma cells (PANC-1) in absence and presence of UV irradiation. Zn-based QDs exhibited less intrinsic cytotoxicity than the Cd-based QDs, however, the excitation of 50?µg/mL-QDs using UV lamp significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of both QDs. After 15?min of UV irradiation, the viability for cells exposed to Cd-based QDs capped with TGA or glutathione was 49%?±?6% or 56%?±?3%, respectively. The corresponding cell viability in the control test was 83%?±?8% after 15?min of UV irradiation. In turn, the viability for cells exposed to Zn-based QDs capped with 3-MPA or TGA was 64%?±?3% and 52%?±?3%, respectively, after 30?min of UV irradiation; the cell viability in the control test was 80%?±?7% for the same UV irradiation time. Laser scanning confocal analyses evidenced that QDs can be easily ingested by PANC-1. Based on their good compositional stability, Zn-based QDs capped with 3-MPA can be considered a promising material for nanomedicine applications until concentrations of 200?µg/mL.     

碳量子点的合成、性质及其应用

碳量子点(CQDs,C-dots or CDs)是一种新型的碳纳米材料,尺寸在10nm以下,具有良好的水溶性、化学惰性、低毒性、易于功能化和抗光漂白性、光稳定性等优异性能,是碳纳米家族中的一颗闪亮的明星。自从2006年[1]报道了碳量子点(CQDs)明亮多彩的发光现象后,世界各地的研究小组开始对CQDs进行了深入的研究。最近几年的研究报道了各种方法制备的CQDs在生物医学、光催化、光电子、传感等领域中都有重要的应用价值。这篇综述主要总结了关于CQDs的最近的发展,介绍了CQDs的合成方法、表面修饰、掺杂、发光机理、光电性质以及在生物医学、光催化、光电子、传感等领域的应用。     

One-step synthesis of water-soluble ZnSe quantum dots via microwave irradiation

A facile strategy has been developed for the synthesis of glutathione-capped ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous media. The reaction was carried out in air atmosphere with a single step by using Na₂SeO₃, a stable and commercial Se source, to replace the commonly adopted NaHSe or H₂Se. Moreover, microwave irradiation improved the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) as well as lowered the trap emission of as-prepared ZnSe QDs. The obtained QDs performed strong band-edge luminescence (PLQY reached 18%), narrow size distribution (full width at half maximum was 26-30 nm) and weak trap emission without post-treatments. The results of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction demonstrated the small particle size (2-3 nm), good monodispersity and ZnSe(S) alloyed structure of as-prepared QDs. The experimental variables including precursors and stabilizer amounts as well as pH value had significant influence on the PL properties of the ZnSe QDs.     

Polarization rotation in asymmetric semiconductor quantum dots

Rotation of input polarization arising due to the recombination of electrons from the 1s-excitonic state to the hybrid valence band states have been theoretically examined in asymmetric semiconductor quantum dots. The Jones matrix calculations suggest that the polarization rotation directly depends on the asymmetry of the quantum dot and strength of hh–lh coupling. The results advocate the suitability of quantum dots as polarizing devices.     

Patterning nanoroads and quantum dots on fluorinated graphene

Using ab initio methods we have investigated the fluorination of graphene and find that different stoichiometric phases can be formed without a nucleation barrier, with the complete “2D-Teflon” CF phase being thermodynamically most stable. The fluorinated graphene is an insulator and turns out to be a perfect matrix-host for patterning nanoroads and quantum dots of pristine graphene. The electronic and magnetic properties of the nanoroads can be tuned by varying the edge orientation and width. The energy gaps between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO) of quantum dots are size-dependent and show a confinement typical of Dirac fermions. Furthermore, we study the effect of different basic coverage of F on graphene (with stoichiometries CF and C₄F) on the band gaps, and show the suitability of these materials to host quantum dots of graphene with unique electronic properties.