Surface plasmon inhibited photo-luminescence activation in CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots

Summary, in English

In a composite film of Cd_x Se_y Zn_1-x S_1-y gradient core-shell quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanorods (NRs), the optical properties of the QDs are drastically affected by the plasmonic nanoparticles. We provide a careful study of the two-step formation of the film and its morphology. Subsequently we focus on QD luminescence photoactivation - a process induced by photochemical changes on the QD surface. We observe that even a sparse coverage of AuNRs can completely inhibit the photoactivation of the QDs' emission in the film. We demonstrate that the inhibition can be accounted for by a rapid energy transfer between QDs and AuNRs. Finally, we propose that the behavior of emission photoactivation can be used as a signature to distinguish between energy and electron transfer in the QD-based materials.

• Author: Junsheng Chen; Karel Zidek; Mohamed Abdellah; Mohammed J. Al-Marri; Kaibo Zheng; Tõnu Pullerits
• Department/s: Chemical Physics; NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
• Publishing year: 2016-05-11
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 25
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/28/25/254001
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Topic: Nano-technology; Physical Chemistry (including Surface- and Colloid Chemistry); Condensed Matter Physics (including Material Physics, Nano Physics)
• Keywords: energy transfer; gold nanorods; photoactivation; quantum dots; surface plasmon
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0953-8984