Transitions in ZnS and CdSe quantum dots and wave-function symmetry

Topological signatures in the entanglement of a topological insulator-quantum dot hybrid

In the present work, we consider a hybrid plexciton composed of a semiconductor quantum dot interacting with a topological insulator nanoparticle subject to an external magnetic field. Due to the topological magnetoelectricity of the nanoparticle, long-living plasmonic surface modes are induced, which are quantized and coupled with the quantum dot through its polarization operator. We consider the hybrid as an open quantum system, such that environment effects are accounted by the master equation in the Born-Markov approximation. Then, we apply the Peres' positive partial transpose criterion to quantify the entanglement of the hybrid. We show that this entanglement is a direct signature of the [Formula: see text] invariant of topological insulators.

Recombination dynamics in CdTe/CdSe type-II quantum dots

Recombination dynamics in CdTe/CdSe core-shell type-II quantum dots (QDs) has been investigated by time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A very long PL decay time of several hundred nanoseconds has been found at low temperature, which can be rationalized by the spatially separated electrons and holes occurring in a type-II heterostructure. For the temperature dependence of the radiative lifetime, the linewidth and the peak energy of PL spectra show that the recombination of carriers is dominated by delocalized excitons at temperatures below 150 K, while the mixture of delocalized excitons, electrons and holes overwhelms the process at higher temperature. The binding energy of delocalized excitons obtained from the temperature dependence of the non-radiative lifetime is consistent with the theoretical value. The energy dependence of lifetime measurements reveals a third power relationship between the radiative lifetime and the radius of QDs, the light of which can be shed by the quantum confinement effect. In addition, the radiative decay rate is found to be proportional to the square root of excitation power, arising from the change of wavefunction overlap of electrons and holes due to the band bending effect, which is an inherent character of a type-II band alignment.

Quantification of the size-dependent energy gap of individual CdSe quantum dots by valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy (VEELS) performed in a monochromated scanning transmission electron microscope was used to measure the energy gaps of individual quantum dots (QDs). The gap energies of a series of CdSe QDs measured by VEELS reveal the expected quantum confinement effect; the gap energy increases with decreasing particle size. However, the values derived from these first VEELS measurements of single QDs are larger than the values commonly measured by optical spectroscopy. As standard optical methods lack the spatial resolution to probe individual nanoparticles, the particle-size distribution influences the optical response. It is suggested that the impact of the particle-size distribution accounts for the discrepancy between the energy-gap values derived from VEELS of single QDs and from optical methods of ensembles of QDs.

Size-dependent properties of ZnmSn clusters: A density-functional tight-binding study

We present the results of our theoretical calculations on structural and electronic properties of ligand-free Zn(n)S(n) [with n ranging from 4 to 104 (0.8-2.0-nm diameter)] clusters as a function of size of the clusters. We have optimized the structure whereby our initial structures are spherical parts of either zinc-blende or wurtzite structure. We have also considered some hollow bubblelike structures. The calculations are performed by using a parametrized linear combination of atomic orbitals-density-functional theory-local-density approximation-tight-binding method. We have focused on the variation of radial distribution function, Mulliken populations, electronic energy levels, band gap, and stability as a function of size for both zinc-blende and wurtzite-derived ZnS clusters. We have also reported the results of some nonstoichiometric Zn(m)S(n) (with m+n=47, 99, 177) clusters of zinc-blende modification.