High-Frequency EPR and ENDOR Spectroscopy on Semiconductor Quantum Dots

It is shown that high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy are excellent tools for the investigation of the electronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The great attractions of these techniques are that, in contrast to optical methods, they allow the identification of the dopants and provide information about the spatial distribution of the electronic wave function. This latter aspect is particularly attractive because it allows for a quantitative measurement of the effect of confinement on the shape and properties of the wave function. In this contribution EPR and ENDOR results are presented on doped ZnO QDs. Shallow donors (SDs), related to interstitial Li and Na and substitutional Al atoms, have been identified in this material by pulsed high-frequency EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy. The shallow character of the wave function of the donors is evidenced by the multitude of ENDOR transitions of the 67Zn nuclear spins and by the hyperfine interaction of the 7Li, 23Na and 27Al nuclear spins that are much smaller than for atomic lithium, sodium and aluminium. The EPR signal of an exchange-coupled pair consisting of a shallow donor and a deep Na-related acceptor has been identified in ZnO nanocrystals with radii smaller than 1.5 nm. From ENDOR experiments it is concluded that the deep Na-related acceptor is located at the interface of the ZnO core and the Zn(OH)2 capping layer, while the shallow donor is in the ZnO core. The spatial distribution of the electronic wave function of a shallow donor in ZnO semiconductor QDs has been determined in the regime of quantum confinement by using the nuclear spins as probes. Hyperfine interactions as monitored by ENDOR spectroscopy quantitatively reveal the transition from semiconductor to molecular properties upon reduction of the size of the nanoparticles. In addition, the effect of confinement on the g-factor of SDs in ZnO as well as in CdS QDs is observed. Finally, it is shown that an almost complete dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) of the 67Zn nuclear spins in the core of ZnO QDs and of the 1H nuclear spins in the Zn(OH)2 capping layer can be obtained. This DNP is achieved by saturating the EPR transition of SDs present in the QDs with resonant high-frequency microwaves at low temperatures. This nuclear polarization manifests itself as a hole and an antihole in the EPR absorption line of the SD in the QDs and a shift of the hole (antihole). The enhancement of the nuclear polarization opens the possibility to study semiconductor nanostructures with nuclear magnetic resonance techniques

Изменчивость биомассы дождевых червей (Lumbricidae) как отклик биоты на различные экологические условия в модельных экспериментах

В експерименті вивчено вплив різних варіантів субстратів, які використовують у лісовій рекультивації, підстилок із листя деревних порід та зволоження на представників грунтових сапрофагів (Lumbricidae). Встановлено достовірний вплив субстратів, підстилок та зволоження на збільшення біомаси дощових черв'яків.Influence of various soil blends used in forest rehabilitation, leaf litters of trees, and humidity levels on soil saprophages (Lumbricidae) is experimentally studied. Significant influence of substrates, litters, and humidity levels on the increase of earthworms' biomass has been determined

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Based Spectroscopic Techniques

This chapter addresses the use of electron paramagnetic resonance based spectroscopic techniques to study nanostructures. Particular attention is given to high frequency electron spin echo, electron-nuclear double resonance and optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Analysis of the shift of zero-phonon lines for f–d luminescence of lanthanides in relation to the Dorenbos model

The Dorenbos relation is an empirical model that relates the position of the lowest fd level of any lanthanide ion with that of Ce3+ in the same host lattice. The relation is widely used to estimate the energy of fd levels of trivalent lanthanide ions in a given host lattice based on the peak position of the lowest fd level of at least one of the lanthanide ions in that host. The energy of fd levels is determined from peak maxima in excitation and emission spectra. In this work we use the position of zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) as input to investigate the accuracy of the Dorenbos relation. To this end, the ZPL positions of the fd bands for trivalent lanthanide ions in four different host lattices (CaF2, Y3Al5O12, LiYF4, and YPO4) were obtained and used as input in the Dorenbos relation. The results are compared to those obtained through the standard procedure using band maxima. The data indicate that the ZPL approach gives more accurate estimates for the position of the lowest fd level with standard deviations that are 2–3 times smaller than those obtained for band maxima. The results confirm the concept of the Dorenbos model (constant energy difference between the fd levels of lanthanides) and show that the accuracy is even better than previously reported. The main cause for the larger deviation from positions of band maxima is related to a larger inaccuracy in determining band maxima compared to ZPLs

Compensation of self-absorption losses in luminescent solar concentrators by increasing luminophore concentration

Self-absorption in luminophores is considered a major obstacle on the way towards efficient luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). It is commonly expected that upon increasing luminophore concentration in an LSC the absorption of the luminophores increases as well and therefore self-absorption losses will have higher impact on the performance of the device. In this work we construct a fully functioning liquid phase LSC where the luminophore concentration can be altered without changing other conditions in the experimental set-up. We step-wise enlarge the concentration of the luminophores Lumogen Red 305 and Lumogen Orange 240, while monitoring the electrical output and self-absorption effects. Contrary to common belief, self-absorption does not increasingly limit the performance of LSCs when the luminophore concentration increases

The Challenge of Colloidal Nanoparticle Synthesis

Inorganic nanoparticles have developed into one of the main pillars of Nanoscience. Colloidal nanoparticles are particularly attractive as they consist of inorganic particles that are coated with a layer of organic ligand molecules. The hybrid nature of these nanostructures greatly expands the possibilities for property tailoring, since both components can be independently manipulated. The inorganic particle dictates the optoelectronic and magnetic properties, while the organic surfactant layer controls physical-chemical properties such as colloidal stability, making processing in solution extremely facile. This chapter addresses the essential physical-chemical concepts needed to understand the preparation of colloidal inorganic nanoparticles, and the remarkable degree of control that has been achieved over their composition, size, shape and surface