Interfacial strain and shell thickness effect on core squeeze/stretch in core/shell quantum dots

Abstract

Large surface to volume ratio in zero dimension core/shell quantum dots makes lattice mismatch induced interfacial strain vital in determining structural and optical properties of nanostructures. In this study, changes in lattice mismatch induced strain from different compressive shell (CdS–ZnS) with different thicknesses (thin and thick) are evaluated and its effect on capped core diameter is theoretically calculated. Capped core squeeze amount is compared with its initial (bare) diameter obtained from transmission electron microscopy. The capped core diameter is first calculated theoretically using effective mass approximation. Then, same diameter is obtained from modified version of effective mass approximation method that considers interfacial strain amount. Comparison of the results with bare core size obtained from transmission electron microscopy revealed effect of shell thickness imposed on capped core diameter. Results show, larger lattice mismatch between core and shell induces higher strain amount on the core thereby larger squeezes the core. At the meantime, it is shown that, thicker compressive shell enforces lower stress on core as it widens its distance from core due to lattice relaxation. Hence, core is squeezes less under thicker shell.