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Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 12671

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Donghai Feng

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Interests: quantum dots; nanostructures; laser-material interaction; spintronics; spin dynamics; ultrafast spectroscopy

Prof. Dr. Guofeng Zhang

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
Interests: nanophotonics; colloidal quantum dots; single quantum-dot spectroscopy; photophysical properties; exciton dynamics; light-matter interactions

Dr. Yang Li

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Guest Editor

Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
Interests: colloidal quantum dots; indium phosphine; QLED; synthetic chemistry; infrared photodetector; plasmonic metal oxide nanocrystals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) are tiny nanocrystals with quantum confinement effects in all three spatial directions, showing discrete atom-like electronic structures and size-dependent energy levels. Various strategies, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches, have been developed to grow SQDs with controllable sizes, compositions, and structures. SQDs have many excellent optoelectronic properties including wide tunability, narrow emission bandwidth, high brightness, and high efficiency, and offer a wide range of potential device applications in solar energy harvesting, lighting, displays, detectors, biomedical imaging, etc. They could also be a building block for quantum information technology, generating quantum bits or serving as quantum light sources.

This Special Issue aims to cover recent progress in the synthesis, properties, and applications of SQDs. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Various synthesis strategies and characterization methods of II-VI, III-V, IV-VI, and perovskite SQDs;
Transient and steady-state response of optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties;
Various applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaics, biomedicine, and quantum information processing.

Prof. Dr. Donghai Feng
Prof. Dr. Guofeng Zhang
Dr. Yang Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

colloidal quantum dots
epitaxial quantum dots
photophysical properties
optical and electronic properties
magnetic properties
photocatalysis
optoelectronic devices
photovoltaic devices
biomedical applications
quantum information processing

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temperature- and Size-Dependent Photoluminescence of CuInS₂ Quantum Dots

by Oleg Korepanov, Dmitriy Kozodaev, Olga Aleksandrova, Alexander Bugrov, Dmitrii Firsov, Demid Kirilenko, Dmitriy Mazing, Vyacheslav Moshnikov and Zamir Shomakhov

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(21), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13212892 - 1 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1630

Abstract

We present the results of a temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy study on CuInS₂ quantum dots (QDs). In order to elucidate the influence of QD size on PL temperature dependence, size-selective precipitation was used to obtain several nanoparticle fractions. Additionally, the nanoparticles’ morphology and chemical composition were studied using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained QDs showed luminescence in the visible–near infrared range. The PL energy, linewidth, and intensity were studied within an 11–300 K interval. For all fractions, a temperature decrease led to a shift in the emission maximum to higher energies and pronounced growth of the PL intensity down to 75–100 K. It was found that for large particle fractions, the PL intensity started to decrease, with temperature decreasing below 75 K, while the PL intensity of small nanoparticles remained stable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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20 pages, 4937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Magnetic Carbon Quantum Dots/Iron Oxide Composite Based on Waste Rice Noodle and Iron Oxide Scale: Preparation and Photocatalytic Capability

by Wanying Ying, Qing Liu, Xinyan Jin, Guanzhi Ding, Mengyu Liu, Pengyu Wang and Shuoping Chen

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2506; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182506 - 6 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 904

Abstract

To provide an economical magnetic photocatalyst and introduce an innovative approach for efficiently utilizing discarded waste rice noodle (WRN) and iron oxide scale (IOS), we initially converted WRN into carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using a hydrothermal method, simultaneously calcining IOS to obtain iron oxide (FeO_x). Subsequently, we successfully synthesized a cost-effective, magnetic CQDs/FeO_x photocatalytic composite for the first time by combining the resulting CQDs and FeO_x. Our findings demonstrated that calcining IOS in an air atmosphere enhanced the content of photocatalytically active α-Fe₂O₃, while incorporating WRN-based CQDs into FeO_x improved the electron-hole pair separation, resulting in increased O₂ reduction and H₂O oxidation. Under optimized conditions (IOS calcination temperature: 300 °C; carbon loading: 11 wt%), the CQDs/FeO_x composite, utilizing WRN and IOS as its foundation, exhibited exceptional and reusable capabilities in photodegrading methylene blue and tetracycline. Remarkably, for methylene blue, it achieved an impressive degradation rate of 99.30% within 480 min, accompanied by a high degradation rate constant of 5.26 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹. This composite demonstrated reusability potential for up to ten photocatalytic cycles without a significant reduction in the degradation efficiency, surpassing the performance of IOS and FeO_x without CQDs. Notably, the composite exhibited strong magnetism with a saturation magnetization strength of 34.7 emu/g, which enables efficient and convenient recovery in photocatalytic applications. This characteristic is highly advantageous for the large-scale industrial utilization of photocatalytic water purification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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12 pages, 459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coherent Spin Dynamics of Electrons in CsPbBr₃ Perovskite Nanocrystals at Room Temperature

by Sergey R. Meliakov, Evgeny A. Zhukov, Evgeniya V. Kulebyakina, Vasilii V. Belykh and Dmitri R. Yakovlev

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2454; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172454 - 30 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1218

Abstract

Coherent spin dynamics of charge carriers in CsPbBr

_{3}

Coherent spin dynamics of charge carriers in CsPbBr

_{3}

perovskite nanocrystals are studied in a temperature range of 4–300 K and in magnetic fields of up to 500 mT using time-resolved pump-probe Faraday rotation and differential transmission techniques. We detect electron spin Larmor precession in the entire temperature range. At temperatures below 50 K, hole spin precession is also observed. The temperature dependences of spin-related parameters, such as Landè g-factor and spin dephasing time are measured and analyzed. The electron g-factor increases with growing temperature, which can not be described by the temperature-induced band gap renormalization. We find that photocharging of the nanocrystals with either electrons or holes depends on the sample cooling regime, namely the cooling rate and illumination conditions. The type of the charge carrier provided by the photocharging can be identified via the carrier spin Larmor precession. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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9 pages, 2352 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Methods for Obtaining One Single Larmor Frequency, Either v₁ or v₂, in the Coherent Spin Dynamics of Colloidal Quantum Dots

by Meizhen Jiang, Yuanyuan Zhang, Rongrong Hu, Yumeng Men, Lin Cheng, Pan Liang, Tianqing Jia, Zhenrong Sun and Donghai Feng

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 2006; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13132006 - 5 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 968

Abstract

The coexistence of two spin components with different Larmor frequencies in colloidal CdSe and CdS quantum dots (QDs) leads to the entanglement of spin signals, complicating the analysis of dynamic processes and hampering practical applications. Here, we explored several methods, including varying the types of hole acceptors, air or anaerobic atmosphere and laser repetition rates, in order to facilitate the obtention of one single Larmor frequency in the coherent spin dynamics using time-resolved ellipticity spectroscopy at room temperature. In an air or nitrogen atmosphere, manipulating the photocharging processes by applying different types of hole acceptors, e.g., Li[Et₃BH] and 1-octanethiol (OT), can lead to pure spin components with one single Larmor frequency. For as-grown QDs, low laser repetition rates favor the generation of the higher Larmor frequency spin component individually, while the lower Larmor frequency spin component can be enhanced by increasing the laser repetition rates. We hope that the explored methods can inspire further investigations of spin dynamics and related photophysical processes in colloidal nanostructures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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16 pages, 4167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Surface Plasmon Coupling on the Color Conversion of an InGaN/GaN Quantum-Well Structure into Colloidal Quantum Dots Inserted into a Nearby Porous Structure

by Shaobo Yang, His-Yu Feng, Yu-Sheng Lin, Wei-Cheng Chen, Yang Kuo and Chih-Chung (C. C.) Yang

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020328 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

To further enhance the color conversion from a quantum-well (QW) structure into a color-converting colloidal quantum dot (QD) through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we designed and implemented a device structure with QDs inserted into a GaN nano-porous structure near the QWs to gain the advantageous nanoscale-cavity effect. Additionally, surface Ag nanoparticles were deposited for inducing surface plasmon (SP) coupling with the QW structure. Based on the measurements of time-resolved and continuous-wave photoluminescence spectroscopies, the FRET efficiency from QW into QD is enhanced through the SP coupling. In particular, performance in the polarization perpendicular to the essentially extended direction of the fabricated pores in the nano-porous structure is more strongly enhanced when compared with the other linear polarization. A numerical simulation study was undertaken, and showed consistent results with the experimental observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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14 pages, 2841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A High-Quality CdSe/CdS/ZnS Quantum-Dot-Based FRET Aptasensor for the Simultaneous Detection of Two Different Alzheimer’s Disease Core Biomarkers

by Xingchang Lu, Xiaoqi Hou, Hailin Tang, Xinyao Yi and Jianxiu Wang

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(22), 4031; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12224031 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2612

Abstract

The simultaneous detection of two different biomarkers for the point-of-care diagnosis of major diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is greatly challenging. Due to the outstanding photoluminescence (PL) properties of quantum dots (QDs), a high-quality CdSe/CdS/ZnS QD-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) aptasensor for simultaneously monitoring the amyloid-β oligomers (AβO) and tau protein was proposed. By engineering the interior inorganic structure and inorganic–organic interface, water-soluble dual-color CdSe/CdS/ZnS QDs with a near-unity PL quantum yield (>90%) and mono-exponential PL decay dynamics were generated. The π–π stacking and hydrogen bond interaction between the aptamer-functionalized dual-color QDs and gold nanorods@polydopamine (Au NRs@PDA) nanoparticles resulted in significant fluorescence quenching of the QDs through FRET. Upon the incorporation of the AβO and tau protein, the fluorescence recovery of the QDs-DNA/Au NRs@PDA assembly was attained, providing the possibility of simultaneously assaying the two types of AD core biomarkers. The lower detection limits of 50 pM for AβO and 20 pM for the tau protein could be ascribed to the distinguishable and robust fluorescence of QDs and broad spectral absorption of Au NRs@PDA. The sensing strategy serves as a viable platform for the simultaneously monitoring of the core biomarkers for AD and other major diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 3894 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advances in Solution-Processed Blue Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes

by Sheng-Nan Li, Jia-Lin Pan, Yan-Jun Yu, Feng Zhao, Ya-Kun Wang and Liang-Sheng Liao

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(10), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13101695 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3075

Abstract

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) have been identified as a next-generation display technology owing to their low-cost manufacturing, wide color gamut, and electrically driven self-emission properties. However, the efficiency and stability of blue QLEDs still pose a significant challenge, limiting their production and potential application. This review aims to analyse the factors leading to the failure of blue QLEDs and presents a roadmap to accelerate their development based on the progress made in the synthesis of II-VI (CdSe, ZnSe) quantum dots (QDs), III-V (InP) QDs, carbon dots, and perovskite QDs. The proposed analysis will include discussions on material synthesis, core-shell structures, ligand interactions, and device fabrication, providing a comprehensive overview of these materials and their development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semiconductor Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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