Challenge to the charging model of semiconductor-nanocrystal fluorescence intermittency from off-state quantum yields and multiexciton blinking

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Apr 16;104(15):157403. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.157403. Epub 2010 Apr 16.

Abstract

Semiconductor nanocrystals emit light intermittently; i.e., they "blink," under steady illumination. The dark periods have been widely assumed to be due to photoluminescence (PL) quenching by an Auger-like process involving a single additional charge present in the nanocrystal. Our results challenge this long-standing assumption. Close examination of exciton PL intensity time traces of single CdSe(CdZnS) core(shell) nanocrystals reveals that the dark state PL quantum yield can be 10 times less than the biexciton PL quantum yield. In addition, we observe spectrally resolved multiexciton emission and find that it also blinks with an on/off ratio greater than 10:1. These results directly contradict the predictions of the charging model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Semiconductors*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Time Factors