Optical and Electronic Properties of Nonconcentric PbSe/CdSe Colloidal Quantum Dots

Lead chalcogenide colloidal quantum dots are attractive candidates for applications operating in the near infrared spectral range. However, their function is forestalled by limited stability under ambient conditions. Prolonged temperature-activated cation-exchange of Cd²⁺ for Pb²⁺ forms PbSe/CdSe core/shell heterostructures, unveiling a promising surface passivation route and a method to modify the dots’ electronic properties. Here, we follow early stages of an-exchange process, using spectroscopic and structural characterization tools, as well as numerical calculations. We illustrate that preliminary-exchange stages involve the formation of nonconcentric heterostructures, presumably due to a facet selective reaction, showing a pronounced change in the optical properties upon the increase of the degree of nonconcentricity or/and plausible creation of core/shell interfacial alloying. However, progressive-exchange stages lead to rearrangement of the shell segment into uniform coverage, providing tolerance to oxygen exposure with a spectral steadiness already on the formation of a monolayer shell

Hydrogen-like Wannier–Mott Excitons in Single Crystal of Methylammonium Lead Bromide Perovskite

A thorough investigation of exciton properties in bulk CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite single crystals was carried out by recording the reflectance, steady-state and transient photoluminescence spectra of submicron volumes across the crystal. The study included an examination of the spectra profiles at various temperatures and laser excitation fluencies. The results resolved the first and second hydrogen-like Wannier–Mott exciton transitions at low temperatures, from which the ground-state exciton’s binding energy of 15.33 meV and Bohr radius of ∼4.38 nm were derived. Furthermore, the photoluminescence temperature dependence suggested dominance of delayed exciton emission at elevated temperatures, originating from detrapping of carriers from shallow traps or/and from retrapping of electron–hole pairs into exciton states. The study revealed knowledge about several currently controversial issues that have an impact on functionality of perovskite materials in optoelectronic devices

Tuning Optical Activity of IV–VI Colloidal Quantum Dots in the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Spectral Regime

The achievement of tunable optical properties across a wide spectral range, along with an efficient surface passivation of lead chalcogenide (PbSe) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs), has significant importance for scientific research and for technological applications. This paper describes two comprehensive pathways to tune optical activities of PbSe CQDs in the near-infrared (NIR, 0.75–1.4 μm) and the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1.4–3 μm) ranges. A one-pot procedure enabled the growth of relatively large PbSe CQDs (with average sizes up to 14 nm) exploiting programmable temperature control during the growth process. These CQDs showed optical activity up to 3.2 μm. In addition, PbSe/PbS core/shell CQDs prepared by an orderly injection rate led to an energy red-shift of the absorption edge with the increase of the shell thickness, whereas a postannealing treatment further extended the band-edge energy toward the SWIR regime. A better chemical stability of the CQDs with respect to that of PbSe core CQDs was attained by shelling of PbSe by epitaxial layers of PbS, but limited to a short duration (<1 day). However, air stability of the relatively large PbSe as well as the PbSe/PbS CQDs over a prolonged period of time (weeks) was achieved after a postsynthesis chlorination treatment

Influence of Alloying on the Optical Properties of IV–VI Nanorods

The synthesis and structural and optical characterization of PbSe_<i>x</i>S_1–<i>x</i> and PbSe/PbSe_<i>x</i>S_1–<i>x</i> nanorods with a diameter between 2 and 4.5 nm and a length of 10 to 38 nm is reported. The energy band gap of the nanorods exhibits a pronounced variation upon the change in diameter and composition, with a minor influence on lengths beyond 10 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum of the nanorods is composed of a dominant band, accompanied by a satellite band at elevated temperatures. The dominant band shows an exceptionally small band gap temperature coefficient and negligible extension of the radiative lifetime at cryogenic temperatures compared with the photoluminescence processes in PbSe nanorods and in PbSe_<i>x</i>S_1–<i>x</i> quantum dots with similar band gap energy. A theoretical model suggests the occurrence of independent transitions from a pair of band-edge valleys, located at the L points of Brillouin zone, related to the dominant and satellite emission processes. Each valley is four-fold degenerate and possesses a relatively small electron–hole exchange interaction

Cation Exchange Combined with Kirkendall Effect in the Preparation of SnTe/CdTe and CdTe/SnTe Core/Shell Nanocrystals

Controlling the synthesis of narrow band gap semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with a high-quality surface is of prime importance for scientific and technological interests. This Letter presents facile solution-phase syntheses of SnTe NCs and their corresponding core/shell heterostructures. Here, we synthesized monodisperse and highly crystalline SnTe NCs by employing an inexpensive, nontoxic precursor, SnCl₂, the reactivity of which was enhanced by adding a reducing agent, 1,2-hexadecanediol. Moreover, we developed a synthesis procedure for the formation of SnTe-based core/shell NCs by combining the cation exchange and the Kirkendall effect. The cation exchange of Sn²⁺ by Cd²⁺ at the surface allowed primarily the formation of SnTe/CdTe core/shell NCs. Further continuation of the reaction promoted an intensive diffusion of the Cd²⁺ ions, which via the Kirkendall effect led to the formation of the inverted CdTe/SnTe core/shell NCs