Silica encapsulation of luminescent silicon nanoparticles: stable and biocompatible nanohybrids

This article presents a process for surface coating and functionalization of luminescent silicon nanoparticles. The particles were coated with silica using a microemulsion process that was adapted to the fragile silicon nanoparticles. The as-produced core–shell particles have a mean diameter of 35 nm and exhibit the intrinsic photoluminescence of the silicon core. The silica layer protects the core from aqueous oxidation for several days, thus allowing the use of the nanoparticles for biological applications. The nanoparticles were further coated with amines and functionalized with polyethylene glycol chains and the toxicity of the particles has been evaluated at the different stages of the process. The core–shell nanoparticles exhibit no acute toxicity towards lung cells, which is promising for further development.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles using polyethylene glycol (PEG)

ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO encapsulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was synthesized using zinc acetate as a precursor at low temperature and characterized by different techniques. The influence of the types of solvent, synthesis parameters, and PEG encapsulation on the crystallization, the surface morphology, and the luminescent properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by the sol–gel process were investigated. The influence of different addition molar masses of the PEG during the synthesis on the ZnO emission peaks was systematically monitored. The crystallinity, the surface morphology, and the photoluminescence (PL) properties of ZnO depended highly on the synthesis process and PEG encapsulation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra of ZnO nanoparticles show that all the peaks corresponding to the various planes of wurtzite ZnO indicate the formation of a single phase. The absorption edges of these ZnO nanoparticles are shifted by additions of the PEG polymer. The photoluminescence (PL) characterization of the ZnO nanostructures exhibited a broad emission in the visible range with maximum peak at 450 and/or 560 nm.     

Laser excitation induced photoluminescence linewidth reduction in molecular beam epitaxial InAlAs layers grown on InP substrates

An experimental investigation is presented on the influence of laser excitation on the photoluminescence (PL) linewidth in InAlAs layers grown lattice matched to InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Measurements performed on silicon-doped samples and samples grown at different arsenic overpressures (V/III flux ratio) showed that the linewidth decreases with increasing laser excitation power. A model describing an unbalanced migration of photo-generated charge carriers due to the presence of clusters is proposed to explain the effect of the linewidth reduction. Also, the trend of the linewidth decrease becomes more pronounced in InAlAs samples with higher silicon doping concentrations and those grown at higher V/III ratios. Samples with higher silicon-doping concentrations have broader linewidths which could be the result of poorer alloy quality due to the presence of disorder (S. F. Yoon et al., J. Appl. Phys. 78, 1812 (1995)). A similar trend of linewidth reduction was observed at temperatures as high as 30 K. Our results show that such a measurement of linewidth vs. laser excitation power can be used as a supplementary method for InAlAs material characterization.     

CdSe/CdZnSe超晶格的激子光学性质的研究

用分子束外延法在GaAs衬底上生长了CdSe/Cd0.65Zn0.35Se超晶格结构。利用X射线衍射（XRD）、77K下变密度激发的光致发光光谱和变温度光致发光光谱研究了CdSe/CdZnSe超晶格结构和激光复合特性，在该材料中观测到激子－激子散射发射峰，变密度激发光致发光光谱和谱温度光致发光光谱证实了这一现象，激子发射峰的线宽随着温度的升高而展宽，低温时发光峰的宽度主要是由合金组分和阱垒起伏引起的，没温时激子线宽展宽是由于激子与纵光学声子和离化的施主杂质间的散射作用引起的，光致发光的强度随着温度的升高而降低，这主要是由激子的热离化造成的，也就是说，热激发使得电子或空穴由阱中跃迁至垒上。     

Role of surface modification of CdS nanoparticles on the performance of hybrid photovoltaic devices based on p-phenylenevinylene derivate

The role of organic capping ligand of semiconductor nanoparticles in dictating the interfacial charge transfer processes in hybrid semiconductor nanoparticles/polymer-based photovoltaic devices is investigated. Morphology, optical and structural study of the CdS nanoparticles and the hybrid material were accomplished using X-ray diffraction (XRD), absorption (UV–vis), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (PLRT). A broad band absorption in UV–visible region and considerable fluorescence quenching of MEH-PPV in the composites are noted indicating a photo-induced charge transfer and dissociation of excitons. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements indicating decreased lifetime further confirm this process. The solar cells open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current were improved using thiophenol modified CdS nanoparticles as electron acceptor in comparison to MEH-PPV only device demonstrating a promising approach to enhance charge transport in the hybrid nanoparticles–polymer composite photovoltaic cells (PV).     

Linear optical absorption and photoluminescence emission properties of gold nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation technique

Gold nanoparticles of average size varying between 1.1 and 3.3?nm are prepared by 1064?nm Nd:YAG laser ablation of solid gold target kept in ethylene glycol medium. The measured UV-Visible absorption spectra showed the presence of sharp absorption peaks in the UV and in the visible regions due to the interband transition and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) oscillations in Au nanoparticles, respectively. The increase in linewidth of the SPR peaks with the reduction in particle sizes is observed due to intrinsic size effects. The prepared samples exhibit photoluminescence (PL) emissions in the UV-Visible region peaked at ??354?nm due to the recombination of electrons with holes from sp conduction band to d-band of Au. The peak PL intensity in the sample prepared with 60 minutes of laser ablation time is enhanced by a factor of ??2.5 compared to that obtained in the sample prepared with a laser-ablation time duration of 15 minutes.     

Coupling of nitrogen-vacancy centers to photonic crystal cavities in monocrystalline diamond

The zero-phonon transition rate of a nitrogen-vacancy center is enhanced by a factor of ～70 by coupling to a photonic crystal resonator fabricated in monocrystalline diamond using standard semiconductor fabrication techniques. Photon correlation measurements on the spectrally filtered zero-phonon line show antibunching, a signature that the collected photoluminescence is emitted primarily by a single nitrogen-vacancy center. The linewidth of the coupled nitrogen-vacancy center and the spectral diffusion are characterized using high-resolution photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy.     

Photoluminescence intermittency in single CdSe nanoparticles: Environment dependence

We report that photoluminescence (PL) intermittency properties of single CdSe semiconductor nanoparticles at room temperature are sensitive to local environments around nanoparticles. The PL intermittency behaviors depend on ambient gas (N₂ or air) and substrate material (glass or Au). Blueshift of the PL peak energy is observed on glass and Au surfaces during photodegradation in air. The mechanism of the PL intermittency of single CdSe nanoparticles is discussed.     

Photoluminescence of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles in complexes with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes

The data on the influence of polyelectrolytes on the photon emission probability of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles are obtained. The decrease in the photoluminescence quantum yield of nanoparticles occurring upon their transfer to aqueous solutions from toluene (in the course of solubilization) depends on the ionic nature of an agent applied for the replacement of trioctylphosphine oxide residues on the surface of nanoparticles. It turns out that such a cationic modifying agent as cysteamine leads to an insignificant (～10%) decrease in the photoluminescence quantum yield of nanoparticles. The use of such an anionic agent as mercaptoacetic acid causes a significant (～80%) decrease in the quantum yield and the average decay time of photoluminescence. For nanoparticles modified by mercaptoacetic acid (anionic nanoparticles), this decrease is partially compensated if these particles interact with polyelectrolytes whose backbone is oppositely charged (cationic polyelectrolytes), such as polyallylamine and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride. In this case, the photoluminescence quantum yield shows a reverse increase by 40%, remaining the same within a matter of months or longer. In contrast to this, cationic nanoparticles, only slightly quenched by cysteamine at the stage of solubilization, are appreciably degraded in complexes with anionic polyelectrolytes in solutions and upon immobilization of complexes on a substrate, so that their photoluminescence quantum yield irreversible decreases to zero within a few days. Possible mechanisms of the effects observed are discussed and their consideration in polyelectrolyte-based molecular lithography.     

Optical characteristics of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles synthesized in polyethylene matrix and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-xylene solution

The properties of CdS nanoparticles synthesized in a polyethylene matrix and an ortho-xylene solution are compared. It is shown that these nanoparticles have different shapes, structures, and degrees of imperfection. Due to these differences, unaggregated nanoparticles in solution exhibit luminescence in contrast to nanoparticles in polyethylene. The stabilization of nanoparticles in polyethylene most probably occurs via OH groups, while nanoparticles in solution are stabilized due to partial interaction with dissolved sulfur. The absorption and luminescence spectra of samples with polyethylene are strongly distorted by reabsorption and scattering, while this effect in solution is absent due to a small concentration of nanoparticles.     

Photoluminescence of CdS nanoparticles embedded in a starch matrix

CdS nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation in aqueous solution using starch as the capping molecule, and the effect of the pH of the solution on the optical absorption, photoluminescence, and size of the nanoparticles was studied. Absorption spectra, obtained by photoacoustic spectroscopy, indicated that the band gap energy of the crystalline nanoparticles decreased from 2.68 eV down to 2.48 eV by increasing the pH of the solution from 9 up to 14. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the CdS nanoparticles were of zinc blende structure, and that the particle size increased from 1.35 nm up to 2.45 nm with increasing pH. In addition, temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements of the capped material showed a blue-shift of the emission peak for temperatures higher than 150 K, indicating the influence of starch on the formation of defect levels on the surface of the CdS nanoparticles.     

Optical properties of InGaAsBi/GaAs strained quantum wells studied by temperature-dependent photoluminescence

The effect of bismuth on the optical properties of InGaAsBi/GaAs quantum well structures is investigated using the temperature-dependent photoluminescence from 12 K to 450 K.The incorporation of bismuth in the InGaAsBi quantum well is confirmed and found to result in a red shift of photoluminescence wavelength of 27.3 meV at 300 K.The photoluminescence intensity is significantly enhanced by about 50 times at 12 K with respect to that of the InGaAs quantum well due to the surfactant effect of bismuth.The temperature-dependent integrated photoluminescence intensities of the two samples reveal different behaviors related to various non-radiative recombination processes.The incorporation of bismuth also induces alloy non-uniformity in the quantum well,leading to an increased photoluminescence linewidth.     

Secondary anti-stokes emission from the bulk of gallium phosphide at 4.2 K

Secondary radiation (photoluminescence and Raman scattering) emitted by gallium phosphide single crystals at helium temperatures is investigated. It is established for the first time that, in the case when the secondary emission spectra are excited by a cw low-power He-Ne laser, whose linewidth lies in the transparency region of GaP, anti-Stokes photoluminescence from the bulk of the sample occurs due to interband and impurity recombination. The results obtained make it possible to carry out a qualitative and quantitative analysis of impurities which are present in the bulk of a semiconductor by recording the bulk anti-Stokes photoluminescence spectra at low temperatures.     

Third-Order Nonlinear Effect and Polarization-Dependent Modulation Using Spherical-Like MoS2 Nanoparticles

A type of MoS₂ nanoparticle with a spherical-like shape is chemically synthesized with favorable third-order and suppressed second-order nonlinear optical response, which results from the isotropy induced by the geometrical uniformity of nanoparticles and an artificial symmetry center. It is found that the linewidth of third harmonic signal is broadened due to the self-phase modulation effect, another third-order nonlinearity. Moreover, the intensity of harmonic signal can be conveniently adjusted by controlling the polarization state of applied optical field. The artificially designed material morphology may provide a reference for designing all-optical modulation devices.     

Self-assembled and fluorescence enhancement of semiconductor nanoparticles induced by surfactant adsorption

When semiconductor colloidal CdS nanoparticles and nonylphenol are mixed together in dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature, a self-assembling process is induced. In the course, the size tunable properties of CdS nanoparticles are amplified. A blue shift in the emission spectrum and a strong photoluminescence enhancement are observed without significant change in the absorption features of the colloidal nanoparticles. These results are attributed to the adsorption of nonylphenol onto the nanoparticles surface and to the association process of the surfactant molecules. The surfactant adsorption process provides a nanoparticle surface passivation and induces an associative phase that enlarges the photoluminescence stability. This strategy opens the possibility to improve simultaneously physicochemical and photoluminescence properties of nanocrystals in solution as well as to control their deposition on two-dimensional surfaces.     

OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnO COMPOSITE NANOPARTICLES

We have synthesized core/shell structure ZnO composite nanoparticles by surface chemical modification. This new composite material shows a large optical gap redshift compared with the homogeneous ZnO nanoparticles. The visible photoluminescence ranging from blue to red in color with fast decay time may be as signed to the interfacial bound-exciton-like emission.     

Au的金属颗粒对二硫化钼发光增强

二硫化钼(MoS₂)是一种层状的二维过渡金属硫族化合物材料,从块体到单层,禁带由间接带隙变为直接带隙,由于通常机械剥落的单层MoS₂是n型掺杂的,使得其发光效率仍然很低. 在本文中,采用匀胶机旋涂的方法将共振吸收峰在514 nm附近的纳米金颗粒尽可能均匀的铺在单层、双层以及多层的MoS₂样品表面,发现单层和双层样品的光致发光谱(PL谱)分别增强了约30倍和2倍同时伴随着峰位的蓝移,而多层样品的发光强度也略有增强. 拉曼特性揭示了纳米金颗粒对单层和双层MoS₂样品产生了明显的p型掺杂,从而增强了发光;同时纳米金颗粒的表面等离子激元效应对激发光的天线作用也是增强MoS₂的光致发光的一个因素. 关键词： 二硫化钼 光致发光 p型掺杂 Au纳米颗粒     

Temperature and density dependence of exciton lifetimes in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells

The photoluminescence linewidths and excition lifetimes of free excitons in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells were systematically investigated as a function of temperature, quantum well width, and carrier density. The experimental results showed that the exciton decay processes were strongly related to the linewidth of the exciton and the exciton binding energy.     

A novel two-phase thermal approach for synthesizing CdSe/CdS core/shell nanostructure

CdSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals have been synthesized through a low cost and simple two-phase thermal route. The optical spectroscopy and structural characterization evidenced the core/shell structure of the CdSe/CdS nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction patterns of CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles exhibited peak positions corresponding to those of their bulk cubic crystal structures. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed the elemental composition of the CdSe/CdS nanoparticles. The absorption spectra of core/shell nanoparticles showed red shift with respect to the core CdSe nanoparticles. The photoluminescence study indicates that the intensity of the emission maximum is considerably increased in the core/shell structure as compared with the parent material, and the capping of CdS nanoparticles with CdSe material exhibit a near band-edge emission, indicating a successful passivation by removing surface defects. The high-resolution transmission microscope images of the bare and core/shell nanoparticles ascertained the monodispersed and well-defined spherical particles. The average particle sizes for CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanoparticles are 2.5 and 5 nm, respectively, thus confirming, the larger diameter of CdSe/CdS core/shell nanostructure than the core CdSe nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites with uniform thin silver layers

This paper presents an investigation on the synthesis and characterization of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites. ZnO nanorods were employed as core material for Ag seeds, and subsequent nucleation and growth of reduced Ag by formaldehyde formed the ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites. The ZnO-Ag nanocomposites were annealed at different temperature to improve the crystallinity and binding strength of Ag nanoparticles. The morphology, microstructure and optical properties of the ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and photoluminescence measurement. It was demonstrated that very small face-center-cubic Ag nanoparticles were coated on the surface of ZnO nanorods. The ultraviolet absorption and surface plasmon absorption band of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites exhibited some redshifts relative to pure ZnO nanorods and monometallic Ag nanoparticles. The coating of Ag nanocrystals onto the ZnO nanorods completely quenched the photoluminescence. These observations reflected the strong interfacial interaction between ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles. The effect of Ag coating thickness on the morphology and optical properties of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites was also investigated. Moreover, the growth mechanism of ZnO-Ag core-shell nanocomposites was also proposed and discussed in detail.