Off-central acceptor impurity in a spherical quantum dot

The hole energy spectrum with the ion of an acceptor impurity in the quantum dot has been calculated using the spherical approximation of the multiband Luttinger model. The dependence of the hole energy levels on the impurity location in the quantum dot has been studied. The effect of the impurity location on the dipole momentum and the oscillator strength has been analyzed. The hole interlevel absorption coefficient has been calculated.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Sharp electroluminescence lines excited by tunneling injection into a large ensemble of quantum dots

We observe a strong bias-dependence of the electroluminescence spectra of an ensemble of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) excited by tunnelling injection of carriers from the n- and p-doped GaAs layers of a p-i-n diode. We show that the dot emission evolves from a broad band above flat-band condition to a series of sharp emission lines below a characteristic bias voltage. Also, we present a study of the electroluminescence under resonant bias excitation of the dots and demonstrate up-conversion luminescence. © 2007 American Institute of Physics

Sharp-line electroluminescence from individual quantum dots by resonant tunneling injection of carriers

We report sharp electroluminescence lines from individual self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) excited by resonant tunneling injection of carriers from the n- and p-doped GaAs layers of a p-i-n diode. Bias-tunable tunneling of carriers into the dots provides a means of controlling injection and light emission from a small number of individual dots within a large ensemble. We also show that the extent of carrier energy relaxation prior to recombination can be controlled by tailoring the morphology of the QD layer. © 2006 American Institute of Physics

Temperature dependence of the photoluminescence emission from thiol-capped PbS quantum dots

The authors report the temperature dependence of the near-infrared photoluminescence (PL) emission from thiol-capped PbS quantum dots. The high thermal stability of the PL allows the authors to study the thermal broadening of the dot emission over an extended temperature range (4-300 K). The authors show that the linewidth of the dot PL emission is strongly enhanced at temperatures above 150 K. This behavior is attributed to dephasing of the quantum electronic states by carrier interaction with longitudinal optical phonons. The authors' data also indicate that the strength of the carrier-phonon coupling is larger in smaller dots. © 2007 American Institute of Physics

Electron spin coherence near room temperature in magnetic quantum dots

We report on an example of confined magnetic ions with long spin coherence near room temperature. This was achieved by confining single Mn2+ spins in colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and by dispersing the QDs in a proton-spin free matrix. The controlled suppression of Mn–Mn interactions and minimization of Mn–nuclear spin dipolar interactions result in unprecedentedly long phase memory (TM ~ 8 μs) and spin–lattice relaxation (T1 ~ 10 ms) time constants for Mn2+ ions at T = 4.5 K, and in electron spin coherence observable near room temperature (TM ~ 1 μs)

Synthesis of folic acid functionalized gold nanoclusters for targeting folate receptor-positive cells

We report on the synthesis of water-soluble gold nanoclusters capped with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based ligands and further functionalized with folic acid for specific cellular uptake. The dihydrolipoic acid-PEG-based ligands terminated with -OMe, -NH2 and -COOH functional groups are produced and used for surface passivation of Au nanoclusters (NCs) with diameters <2 nm. The produced sub 2 nm Au NCs possess long-shelf life and are stable in physiologically relevant environments (temperature and pH), are paramagnetic and biocompatible. The paramagnetism of Au NCs in solution is also reported. The functional groups on the capping ligands are used for direct conjugation of targeting molecules onto Au NCs without the need for post synthesis modification. Folic acid (FA) is attached via an amide group and effectively target cells expressing the folate receptor. The combination of targeting ability, biocompatibility and paramagnetism in FA-functionalized Au NCs is of relevance for their exploitation in nanomedicine for targeted imaging

Realization of Universal Quantum Gates with Spin-Qudits in Colloidal Quantum Dots

We exploit hyperfine interactions in a single Mn-ion confined in a quantum dot (QD) to create a qudit, i.e. a multi-level quantum-bit system, with well-defined, addressable and robust set of spin states for the realization of universal quantum gates. We generate and probe an arbitrary superposition of states between selected hyperfine energy level pairs by using electron double resonance detected nuclear magnetic resonance (EDNMR). This enables the observation of Rabi oscillations and the experimental realization of NOT and √SWAP universal quantum gates that are robust against decoherence. Our protocol for cyclical preparation, manipulation and read-out of logic gates offers opportunities for integration of qudits in scalable quantum circuit architectures beyond solid state electron spin qubits

Molecular beam epitaxy of GaBiAs on (311) B GaAs substrates

We report the growth by molecular beam epitaxy of Ga Bix As1-x epilayers on (311) B GaAs substrates. We use high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD), transmission electron microscopy, and Z -contrast imaging to characterize the structural properties of the as-grown material. We find that the incorporation of Bi into the GaBiAs alloy, as determined by HRXRD, is sizably larger in the (311) B epilayers than in (001) epilayers, giving rise to reduced band-gap energies as obtained by optical transmission spectroscopy. © 2007 American Institute of Physics

Surface Sensing of Quantum Dots by Electron Spins

The nanoscale design of quantum dots (QDs) requires advanced analytical techniques. However, those that are commonly used do not have sufficient sensitivity or spatial resolution. Here, we use magnetic resonance techniques combined with paramagnetic Mn impurities in PbS QDs for sensitive probing of the QD surface and environment. In particular, we reveal inequivalent proton spin relaxations of the capping ligands and solvent molecules, strengths and anisotropies of the Mn nuclear spin interactions, and Mn nuclei distances with ∼1 Å sensitivity. These findings demonstrate the potential of magnetically doped QDs as sensitive magnetic nanoprobes and the use of electron spins for surface sensing

Light-Induced Stark Effect and Reversible Photoluminescence Quenching in Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals

Inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have demonstrated a number of unique optical and electronic properties for optoelectronic applications. However, the physical properties of these nanostructures, such as the dynamics of charge carriers on different timescales and their effect on the optical recombination of carriers, are not yet fully understood. This work reports on a slow (>1s) reversible quenching of the NC photoluminescence due to a light-induced Stark effect involving defects on the surface of the NCs and the redistribution of photoexcited carriers onto the NC surface. This phenomenon can influence the operation of optoelectronic devices based on these NCs, including hybrid photosensors based on graphene decorated with inorganic perovskite NCs, revealing their prospects and limitations