Ultrafast carrier dynamics in Ag-CdTe hybrid nanostructure: non-radiative and radiative relaxations

In this article, we study non-radiative and radiative relaxation processes in a hybrid formed by combining Ag nanoparticle (NP) and CdTe quantum dots (QD) using transient transmission spectroscopy. The ultrafast transient transmission of hybrid, when excited at 400 nm, shows a faster recovery of hot electrons at a shorter time scale (few picoseconds) while it shows a slower recovery at longer time scale (few tens of picoseconds). Further it is found that the contribution of CdTe QD to the transient transmission is increased in the presence of Ag NP. However, the radiative relaxation in CdTe QDs get quenched in the presence of Ag NP. This work provides significant insight into the various relaxation processes that leads to the charge transport and PL quenching mechanisms in metal-semiconductor hybrids.

Photochemistry and Photophysics in Silica-Based Materials: Ultrafast and Single Molecule Spectroscopy Observation

Silica-based materials (SBMs) are widely used in catalysis, photonics, and drug delivery. Their pores and cavities act as hosts of diverse guests ranging from classical dyes to drugs and quantum dots, allowing changes in the photochemical behavior of the confined guests. The heterogeneity of the guest populations as well as the confinement provided by these hosts affect the behavior of the formed hybrid materials. As a consequence, the observed reaction dynamics becomes significantly different and complex. Studying their photobehavior requires advanced laser-based spectroscopy and microscopy techniques as well as computational methods. Thanks to the development of ultrafast (spectroscopy and imaging) tools, we are witnessing an increasing interest of the scientific community to explore the intimate photobehavior of these composites. Here, we review the recent theoretical and ultrafast experimental studies of their photodynamics and discuss the results in comparison to those in homogeneous media. The discussion of the confined dynamics includes solvation and intra- and intermolecular proton-, electron-, and energy transfer events of the guest within the SBMs. Several examples of applications in photocatalysis, (photo)sensors, photonics, photovoltaics, and drug delivery demonstrate the vast potential of the SBMs in modern science and technology.