Thick CdS Shell Research Articles

Colossal Core/Shell CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot Emitters.

Single-photon sources are essential for advancing quantum technologies with scalable integration being a crucial requirement. To date, deterministic positioning of single-photon sources in large-scale photonic structures remains a challenge. In this context, colloidal quantum dots (QDs), particularly core/shell configurations, are attractive due to their solution processability. However, traditional QDs are typically small, about 3 to 6 nm, which restricts their deterministic placement and utility in large-scale photonic devices, particularly within optical cavities. The largest existing core/shell QDs are a family of giant CdSe/CdS QDs, with total diameters ranging from about 20 to 50 nm. Pushing beyond this size limit, we introduce a synthesis strategy for colossal CdSe/CdS QDs, with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 nm, using a stepwise high-temperature continuous injection method. Electron microscopy reveals a consistent hexagonal diamond morphology composed of 12 semipolar {101̅1} facets and one polar (0001) facet. We also identify conditions where shell growth is disrupted, leading to defects, islands, and mechanical instability, which suggest synthetic requirements for growing crystalline particles beyond 100 nm. The stepwise growth of thick CdS shells on CdSe cores enables the synthesis of emissive QDs with long photoluminescence lifetimes of a few microseconds and suppressed blinking at room temperature. Notably, QDs with 80 and 100 CdS monolayers exhibit high single-photon emission purity with second-order photon correlation g(2)(0) values below 0.2.

Well-type thick-shell quantum dots combined with double hole transport layers device structure assisted realization of high-performance quantum dot light-emitting diodes

Quantum dot (QD) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are promising for next-generation lighting and displays. Considering the optimization design of both the QD and device structure is expected to improve the QLED's performance significantly but has rarely been reported. Here, we use the thick-shell QDs combined with a dual-hole transport layer device structure to construct a high-efficiency QLED. The optimized thick-shell QDs with CdS/CdSe/CdS/ZnS seed/spherical quantum well/shell/shell geometry exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 96% at a shell thickness of 5.9 nm. The intermediate emissive CdSe layer with coherent strain ensures defect-free growth of the thick CdS and ZnS outer shells. Based on the orthogonal solvents assisted Poly-TPD&PVK dual-hole transport layer device architecture, the champion QLED achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency of 22.5% and a maximum luminance of 259955 cd m-2, which are 1.6 and 3.7 times that of thin-shell QDs based devices with single hole transport layer, respectively. Our study provides a feasible idea for further improving the performance of QLED devices.

Electrochemical control of photoluminescence in pure wurtzite CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals

Spectroelectrochemical methods are employed to systematically investigate the impacts of external charge filling in three pure wurtzite CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) with different shell thicknesses. We observed that electrons can penetrate the thick CdS shell and inject into the conduction band with an abnormal brightening, while holes are blocked. The formed negative trions result in a different spectral shift according to the size of the NCs, with a redshift of 3.7 nm for 12.5 nm NCs and almost no movement for 23.4 nm NCs. Meanwhile, due to the formation of biexcitons, a variational spectral blueshift with the NCs' size can be determined in time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. This indicates that the binding energy of both biexcitons and negatively charged excitons can be regulated by controlling the shell thickness. Extra charges can also be used to activate/passivate trap states, thereby confirming that the 12.5 nm sample has better surface/interface quality.

Performance of Spherical Quantum Well Down Converters in Solid State Lighting.

We report the color conversion performance of amber and red emitting quantum dots (QDs) on InGaN solid-state lighting (SSL) light emitting diode (LED) packages. Spherical quantum well (SQW) architectures (CdS/CdSe1-xSx/CdS) were prepared using a library of thio- and selenourea synthesis reagents and high throughput synthesis robotics. CdS/CdSe1-xSx QDs with narrow luminescence bands were coated with thick CdS shells (thickness = 1.6-7.5 nm) to achieve photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) up to 88% at amber and red emission wavelengths (λmax = 600-642 nm, FWHM < 45 nm). The photoluminescence from SQWs encapsulated in silicone and deposited on LED packages was monitored under accelerated aging conditions (oven temperature = 85 °C, relative humidity = 5-85%, blue optical power density = 3-45 W/cm2) by monitoring the red photon output over several hundred hours of continuous operation. The growth of a ZnS shell on the SQW surface increases the stability under long-term operation but also reduces the PLQY, especially of SQWs with thick CdS shells. The results illustrate that the outer ZnS shell layer is key to optimizing the PLQY and the long-term stability of QDs during operation on SSL packages.

Precursor reaction kinetics control compositional grading and size of CdSe1-x S x nanocrystal heterostructures.

We report a method to control the composition and microstructure of CdSe1-x S x nanocrystals by the simultaneous injection of sulfide and selenide precursors into a solution of cadmium oleate and oleic acid at 240 °C. Pairs of substituted thio- and selenoureas were selected from a library of compounds with conversion reaction reactivity exponents (k E) spanning 1.3 × 10-5 s-1 to 2.0 × 10-1 s-1. Depending on the relative reactivity (k Se/k S), core/shell and alloyed architectures were obtained. Growth of a thick outer CdS shell using a syringe pump method provides gram quantities of brightly photoluminescent quantum dots (PLQY = 67 to 90%) in a single reaction vessel. Kinetics simulations predict that relative precursor reactivity ratios of less than 10 result in alloyed compositions, while larger reactivity differences lead to abrupt interfaces. CdSe1-x S x alloys (k Se/k S = 2.4) display two longitudinal optical phonon modes with composition dependent frequencies characteristic of the alloy microstructure. When one precursor is more reactive than the other, its conversion reactivity and mole fraction control the number of nuclei, the final nanocrystal size at full conversion, and the elemental composition. The utility of controlled reactivity for adjusting alloy microstructure is discussed.

Probing the Fluorescence Dipoles of Single Cubic CdSe/CdS Nanoplatelets with Vertical or Horizontal Orientations

Measuring the orientation of a single fluorescent nanoemitter and obtaining emitters with a desired orientation is of highest importance for nanophotonics, especially in plasmonics where an emitting dipole close to a metallic surface will couple efficiently to plasmonic modes only if it is deposited vertically. Control of the orientation of a nano-object remains a challenge. Achieving vertical orientation, or having an information on the dipole orientation are key steps for efficient plasmonic excitation. We consider here cubic-shaped nanoplatelets with a thin CdSe core sandwiched in a thick CdS shell. By a combination of polarization measurement and radiation pattern Fourier analysis, we show that each single platelet behaves with excellent precision as a 2D dipole (sum of 2 orthogonal incoherent dipoles) and having only two possible orientations: either they lie horizontally on the substrate or they stand vertically on the edge. The cubic shape allows some platelets to deposit vertically so that they pr...

Structure/Property Relations in "Giant" Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Opportunities in Photonics and Electronics.

Semiconductor nanocrystals exhibit size-tunable absorption and emission ranging from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range, high absorption coefficient, and high photoluminescence quantum yield. Effective surface passivation of these so-called quantum dots (QDs) may be achieved by growing a shell of another semiconductor material. The resulting core/shell QDs can be considered as a model system to study and optimize structure/property relations. A special case consists in growing thick shells (1.5 up to few tens of nanometers) to produce "giant" QDs (g-QDs). Tailoring the chemical composition and structure of CdSe/CdS and PbS/CdS g-QDs is a promising approach to widen the spectral separation of absorption and emission spectra (i.e., the Stokes shift), improve the isolation of photogenerated carriers from surface defects and enhance charge carrier lifetime and mobility. However, most stable systems are limited by a thick CdS shell, which strongly absorbs radiation below 500 nm, covering the UV and part of the visible range. Modification of the interfacial region between the core and shell of g-QDs or tuning their doping with narrow band gap semiconductors are effective approaches to circumvent this challenge. In addition, the synthesis of g-QDs composed of environmentally friendly elements (e.g., CuInSe2/CuInS2) represents an alternative to extend their absorption into the NIR range. Additionally, the band gap and band alignment of g-QDs can be engineered by proper selection of the constituents according to their band edge positions and by tuning their stoichiometry during wet chemical synthesis. In most cases, the quasi-type II localization regime of electrons and holes is achieved. In this type of g-QDs, electrons can leak into the shell region, while the holes remain confined within the core region. This electron-hole spatial distribution is advantageous for optoelectronic devices, resulting in efficient electron-hole separation while maintaining good stability. This Account provides an overview of emerging engineering strategies that can be adopted to optimize structure/property relations in colloidal g-QDs for efficient photon management or charge separation/transfer. In particular, we focus on our recent contributions to this rapidly expanding field of research. We summarize the design and synthesis of a variety of colloidal g-QDs with the aim of tuning the optical properties, such as absorption/emission in a wide region of the solar spectrum, which allows enlargement of their Stokes shift. We also describe the band alignment within these systems, charge carrier dynamics, and charge transfer from g-QDs into semiconducting oxides. We show how these tailored g-QDs may be used as active components in luminescent solar concentrators, photoelectrochemical cells for hydrogen generation, QD-sensitized solar cells and optical nanothermometers. In each case, we aim at providing insights on structure/property relationships and on how to optimize them toward improving device performance. Finally, we describe perspectives for future work, sketching new directions and opportunities in this field of research at the intersection between chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering.

Highly luminescent silica-coated CdS/CdSe/CdS nanoparticles with strong chemical robustness and excellent thermal stability

We present facile synthesis of bright CdS/CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles with 72% of quantum yields (QYs) retaining ca 80% of the original QYs. The main innovative point is the utilization of the highly luminescent CdS/CdSe/CdS seed/spherical quantum well/shell (SQW) as silica coating seeds. The significance of inorganic semiconductor shell passivation and structure design of quantum dots (QDs) for obtaining bright QD@SiO2 is demonstrated by applying silica encapsulation via reverse microemulsion method to three kinds of QDs with different structure: CdSe core and 2 nm CdS shell (CdSe/CdS-thin); CdSe core and 6 nm CdS shell (CdSe/CdS-thick); and CdS core, CdSe intermediate shell and 5 nm CdS outer shell (CdS/CdSe/CdS-SQW). Silica encapsulation inevitably results in lower photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) than pristine QDs due to formation of surface defects. However, the retaining ratio of pristine QY is different in the three silica coated samples; for example, CdSe/CdS-thin/SiO2 shows the lowest retaining ratio (36%) while the retaining ratio of pristine PL QY in CdSe/CdS-thick/SiO2 and SQW/SiO2 is over 80% and SQW/SiO2 shows the highest resulting PL QY. Thick outermost CdS shell isolates the excitons from the defects at surface, making PL QY relatively insensitive to silica encapsulation. The bright SiO2-coated SQW sample shows robustness against harsh conditions, such as acid etching and thermal annealing. The high luminescence and long-term stability highlights the potential of using the SQW/SiO2 nanoparticles in bio-labeling or display applications.

Colloidal Spherical Quantum Wells with Near-Unity Photoluminescence Quantum Yield and Suppressed Blinking.

Thick inorganic shells endow colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) with enhanced photochemical stability and suppression of photoluminescence intermittency (also known as blinking). However, the progress of using thick-shell heterostructure NCs in applications has been limited due to the low photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY ≤ 60%) at room temperature. Here, we demonstrate thick-shell NCs with CdS/CdSe/CdS seed/spherical quantum well/shell (SQW) geometry that exhibit near-unity PL QY at room temperature and suppression of blinking. In SQW NCs, the lattice mismatch is diminished between the emissive CdSe layer and the surrounding CdS layers as a result of coherent strain, which suppresses the formation of misfit defects and consequently permits ∼100% PL QY for SQW NCs with a thick CdS shell (≥5 nm). High PL QY of thick-shell SQW NCs is preserved even in concentrated dispersion and in film under thermal stress, which makes them promising candidates for applications in solid-state lightings and luminescent solar concentrators.

Laser-annealing-made amplified spontaneous emission of “giant” CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals transferred from bulk-like shell to quantum-confined core

“Giant” CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized with thick CdS shell (15 monolayers), and the x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement indicates there is a zinc blende phase in the thick CdS shell, whereas it transformed into wurtzite phase under 5 min radiation with a 400 nm, 594 μJ/cm2 femtosecond (fs) laser beam. The evolution of the NCs’ spontaneous emission under the fs laser radiation was recorded with a Hamamatsu streak camera. The as-synthesized NCs exhibit an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) at 530 nm, which comes from a bulk-like CdS shell due to the interfacial potential barrier, which could slow down the relaxation of holes from the shell to the core. After being annealed by an fs laser, the ASE of the g-NCs is transferred from a bulk-like CdS shell to a quantum-confined CdSe core because the phase transformation determined with the XRD measurement could remove the interfacial barrier. Besides the ASE at 643 nm, two shorter-wavelength ASE peaks at 589 and 541 nm, corresponding to optical transitions of the second (1P) and third (1D) electron quantization shells of the CdSe core, also appear, thus indicating that Auger recombination is effectively suppressed.

Band structure engineering via piezoelectric fields in strained anisotropic CdSe/CdS nanocrystals.

Strain in colloidal heteronanocrystals with non-centrosymmetric lattices presents a unique opportunity for controlling optoelectronic properties and adds a new degree of freedom to existing wavefunction engineering and doping paradigms. We synthesized wurtzite CdSe nanorods embedded in a thick CdS shell, hereby exploiting the large lattice mismatch between the two domains to generate a compressive strain of the CdSe core and a strong piezoelectric potential along its c-axis. Efficient charge separation results in an indirect ground-state transition with a lifetime of several microseconds, almost one order of magnitude longer than any other CdSe/CdS nanocrystal. Higher excited states recombine radiatively in the nanosecond time range, due to increasingly overlapping excited-state orbitals. k̇p calculations confirm the importance of the anisotropic shape and crystal structure in the buildup of the piezoelectric potential. Strain engineering thus presents an efficient approach to highly tunable single- and multiexciton interactions, driven by a dedicated core/shell nanocrystal design.

Electron–Phonon Coupling in CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

Resonance Raman spectra and excitation profiles have been measured and semiquantitatively modeled for core/shell quantum dots consisting of 2.7 nm diameter zincblende CdSe cores and thin (0.5 nm) or thick (1.6 nm) CdS shells. The Raman spectra show previously reported trends of increased peak frequency for both the CdSe and the CdS longitudinal optical (LO) phonons with increasing shell thickness. We also find a strong dependence of the peak CdS frequency on excitation energy and a large discrepancy between the experimental frequency of the CdSe + CdS combination band and the sum of the corresponding fundamental frequencies. This suggests that the dominant transitions at high excitation energies are localized on either the CdSe core or the CdS shell and thereby cannot enhance combination band transitions between core and shell. The CdS to CdSe Raman intensity ratios at high excitation energies further support this picture. The electron-phonon coupling for the CdSe LO phonon in the lowest excitonic transition is slightly weaker in the core/shell structures than in pure CdSe quantum dots, contrary to expectations for the Fröhlich coupling mechanism. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.

Core/shellthick CdTe/CdS quantum dots functionalized TiO2 nanotube: A novel electrochemiluminescence platform for label-free immunosensor to detect tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate in environment

A non-labeled electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor is proposed for the detection of tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) isocyanurate (TBC) by cross-linking anti-TBC antibody onto a core/shellthick CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs)-modified TiO2 nanotube (NT) electrode (CdTe/CdS-TiO2). The thick CdS shell (>5nm) can significantly increase the stability of the CdTe QDs and suppress the nonradiative recombination within the QDs. Strong and stable ECL signals are therefore produced through the electron-transfer reactions between the electron-injected CdTe/CdS QDs and reduced S2O82−. In the presence of the target compound, the formation of immunocomplex results in a decrease in the ECL intensity owing to that the immunocomplex hinders the transfer of reactant reagents to the electrode surface. The immunosensor shows specific and sensitive responses to TBC with a linear range from 10pM to 50nM, and a detection limit of 6pM. The practical applications of the immunosensor are also realized in the determination of TBC in water and soil samples.

Telegraphic Noise in Transport through Colloidal Quantum Dots

We report measurements of electrical transport through single CdSe/CdS core/shell colloidal quantum dots (cQDs) connected to source and drain contacts. We observe telegraphic switching noise showing few plateaus at room temperature. We model and interpret these results as charge trapping of individual trap states, and therefore we resolve individual charge defects in these high-quality low-strain cQDs. The small number of observed defects quantitatively validates the passivation method based on thick CdS shells nearly lattice-matched to CdSe cores first developed to suppress photoluminescence blinking. Finally, we introduce a figure of merit useful to efficiently distinguish telegraphic noise from noise with a Gaussian distribution.

“Flash” Synthesis of CdSe/CdS Core–Shell Quantum Dots

We report on the “flash” synthesis of CdSe/CdS core–shell quantum dots (QDs). This new method, based on a seeded growth approach and using an excess of a carboxylic acid, leads to an isotropic and epitaxial growth of a CdS shell on a wurtzite CdSe core. The method is particularly fast and efficient, allowing the controllable growth of very thick CdS shells (up to 6.7 nm in the present study) in no more than 3 min, which is considerably shorter than in previously reported methods. The prepared materials present state-of-the-art properties with narrow emission and high photoluminescence quantum yields, even for thick CdS shells. Additionally, Raman analyses point to an alloyed interface between the core and the shell, which, in conjunction with the thickness of the CdS shell, results in the observed considerable reduction of the blinking rate.

Enhanced Oxidation Stability of Quasi Core-Shell Alloyed CdSeS Quantum Dots Prepared Through Aqueous Microwave Synthesis Technique

Quasi core shell alloyed CdSeS quantum dots (QDs) have been prepared through a facile aqueous-phase route employing microwave irradiation technique. The optical spectroscopy and structure characterization evidenced the quasi core shell alloyed structures of CdSeS QDs. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the obtained CdSeS QDs displayed peak positions very close to those of bulk cubic CdS crystal structures and the result of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data re-confirmed the thick CdS shell on the CdSe core. The TEM images and HRTEM images of the CdSeS QDs ascertained the well-defined spherical particles and a relatively narrow size distribution. On the basis, the stability of the obtained QDs in an oxidative environment was also discussed using etching reaction by H2O2. The experiments result showed the as-prepared QDs present high tolerance towards H2O2, obviously superior to the commonly used CdTe QDs and core-shell CdTe/CdS QDs, which was attributed to the unique quasi core-shell CdSeS crystal structure and the small lattice mismatch between CdSe and CdS semiconductor materials. This assay provided insight to obtain high stable crystal structured semiconductor nanocrystals in the design and synthesis process.

Evidence for the Role of Holes in Blinking: Negative and Oxidized CdSe/CdS Dots

Thin shell CdSe/CdS colloidal quantum dots with a small 3 nm core diameter exhibit typical blinking and a binary PL intensity distribution. Electrochemical charging with one electron suppresses the blinking. With a larger core of 5 nm, the blinking statistics of on and off states is identical to that of a smaller core but the dots also display a grey state with a finite duration time (~6 ms) on glass. However, the grey state disappears on the electron-accepting ZnO nanocrystals film. In addition, the grey state PL lifetime on glass is similar to the trion lifetime measured from electrochemically charged dots. Therefore, the grey state is assigned to the photocharged negative dots. It is concluded that a grey state is always present as the dots get negatively photocharged even though it might not be observed due to the brightness of the trion and/or the duration time of the negative charge. With thick shell CdSe/CdS dots under electrochemical control, multiple charging, up to four electrons per dot, is observed as sequential changes in the photoluminescence lifetime which can be described by the Nernst equation. The small potential increment confirms the weak electron confinement with the thick CdS shell. Finally, the mechanism of hole-trapping and surface oxidation by the hole is proposed to account for the grey state and off state in the blinking.

Multi-spectroscopic techniques to evaluate the toxicity of alloyed CdSeS quantum dots

Alloyed CdSeS quantum dots (QDs) were successfully synthesized in aqueous phase using microwave irradiation. UV–vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques proved that the prepared alloyed QDs are composed of a CdSe-rich core and thick CdS shell with homogeneous size distributions. In order to study its biological toxicity, multi-spectroscopic techniques were adopted to investigate their conjugation with BSA. Fluorescence quenching methods indicated the prepared CdSeS QDs strongly quenched the fluorescence of BSA due to the formation of non-fluorescence ground-state complex. UV–vis absorbance spectra, synchronous fluorescence spectra and CD spectra further confirmed the alloyed CdSeS QDs binded with BSA and destroyed their hydrogen bonding networks, which induced the conformation changes of this macromolecule.

Aqueous Synthesis of Zinc Blende CdTe/CdS Magic-Core/Thick-Shell Tetrahedral-Shaped Nanocrystals with Emission Tunable to Near-Infrared

We demonstrate the synthesis of near-IR-emitting zinc blende CdTe/CdS tetrahedral-shaped nanocrystals with a magic-sized (approximately 0.8 nm radius) CdTe core and a thick CdS shell (up to 5 nm). These high-quality water-soluble nanocrystals were obtained by a simple but reliable aqueous method at low temperature. During the growth of the shell over the magic core, the core/shell nanocrystals change from type I to type II, as revealed by their enormous photoluminescence (PL) emission peak shift (from 480 to 820 nm) and significant increase in PL lifetime (from approximately 1 to approximately 245 ns). These thick-shell nanocrystals have a high PL quantum yield, high photostability, compact size (hydrodynamic diameter less than 11.0 nm), and reduced blinking behavior. The magic-core/thick-shell nanocrystals may represent an important step toward the synthesis and application of next-generation colloidal nanocrystals from solar cell conversion to intracellular imaging.

Ligand-Controlled Polytypism of Thick-Shell CdSe/CdS Nanocrystals

We report the synthesis of CdSe/CdS semiconductor core/shell nanocrystals with very thick (5 nm) CdS shells. As in the case of core CdSe nanocrystals, we show that a thick-shell CdSe/CdS core/shell structure can be synthesized in either a pure wurtzite (W) or a zinc-blende (ZB) crystal structure. While the growth of thick-shell wurtzite CdSe/CdS is quite straightforward, we observe that the growth of a CdS shell on zinc-blende CdSe cores is more difficult and leads to wurtzite/zinc-blende polytypism when primary amines are present during the shell formation. Using absorption spectra analysis to differentiate zinc blende from wurtzite CdSe, we show that primary amines can induce a nearly complete structural transformation of CdSe ZB cores into W cores. This better understanding of the CdSe ligand-dependent crystal structural evolution during shell growth is further used to grow large (10 nm)-diameter perfect zinc-blende CdSe core crystals emitting above 700 nm, and perfect ZB thick-shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals. We observed that all thick-shell CdSe/CdS QDs have extremely reduced blinking events compared to thin-shell QDs, without any significant influence of crystalline structure and polytypism.