M. A. Baranov

Chemical vapor deposition of isolated spherical diamond particles with embedded silicon-vacancy color centers onto the surface of synthetic opal

Isolated spherical diamond particles with embedded silicon-vacancy color centers are synthesized on a patterned surface of synthetic opal by chemical vapor deposition methods. The phase composition of the particles is determined and their structural and luminescence properties are studied. Prospects are discussed for the application of these particles as integrated spherical diamond microcavities, in which color centers are situated directly in the microcavities.

Hybrid structures based on quantum dots and graphene nanobelts

Luminescence and photoelectric properties of hybrid structures based on CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and multilayer graphene have been investigated. A correlation between the luminescence quantum yield of QDs and their photoelectric properties in hybrid structures is established. It is shown that a decrease in the QD luminescence quantum yield due to adsorption of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphtol azo dye molecules onto the QD surface and a photoinduced increase in the QD luminescence quantum yield are accompanied by a symbate change in the hybrid structure photoconductivity.

Whispering gallery modes in a spherical microcavity with a photoluminescent shell

Whispering-gallery mode spectra in optical microcavities based on spherical silica particles coated with a thin photoluminescent shell of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide are studied. The spectral positions of the whispering-gallery modes for spherical microcavities with a shell are calculated. The dependence of the spectral distance between the TE and TM modes on the shell thickness is examined.

Fabrication of Silicon Nanostructures for Application in Photonics

Silicon is the primary material of modern electronics. It also possesses bright potentials for applications in nanophotonics. At the same time optical properties of bulk silicon do not fully satisfy requirements imposed on them. Fortunately, properties of silicon nanostructures strongly depend on their shapes and sizes. In this regard, of special interest is the development of fabrication and post-processing methods of silicon nanostructures. In this contribution we propose a method for silicon nanostructures fabrication combining the technique of high-vacuum deposition with metal-assisted chemical etching. SEM images as well as ellipsometry, Raman scattering and optical spectroscopy data prove that the desired structural changes were obtained.

Study of the Optical Properties of CdZnSe/ZnS-Quantum Dot–Au-Nanoparticle Complexes

The interaction of gold nanoparticles (NPs) and semiconductor alloyed CdZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in colloidal solutions is studied. It is shown that the photoluminescence intensity of QDs in a mixture decreases compared to that in the initial QD solution, which is caused by resonance nonradiative energy transfer from QDs to Au NPs in spontaneously formed aggregates. To control the formation of pairs of interacting QDs and Au NPs, we proposed have a method for creating QD–Au NP complexes bound by special molecules—ligands. It is shown that the morphology and optical properties of the samples obtained depend on the method of their preparation, in particular, on the chemical environment of QDs. It is found that the complexes form in the case of addition of hydrophilic Au NPs to hydrophobic QDs and that this almost does not change the optical properties of the latter compared to those of quasi-isolated QDs in colloidal solution.

Optical properties of pseudoisocyanine molecular clusters embedded in a nanoporous alumina

The molecular clusters, so called J-aggregates of pseudoisocyanine dye, were obtained in ordered cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide. The absorption and luminescence of the samples were studied by the VIS-spectroscopy and laser confocal microscopy. The band of J-aggregates has the same shape, but is inhomogeneous broadened in comparison with solution. The luminescence maximum of J-aggregates was observed at 578 nm upon excitation at 543 nm as well as at 405 nm. Non-resonant luminescence excitation occurred due to energy transfer from oxygen vacancy of alumina to molecular nanoclusters. This is also confirmed by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy, which shows the increase of luminescence decay time of J-aggregates placed in alumina up to the luminescence time of the clean alumina in comparison with J-aggregates coated on glass substrate.

A highly luminescent porous metamaterial based on a mixture of gold and alloyed semiconductor nanoparticles

Understanding the different processes in modern multicomponent metamaterials is a crucial task for their development. This includes the investigation of superstructures that can be formed by nanoparticle self-assembly. Here we present a destabilization-based synthetic protocol for the preparation of porous superstructures with flower, sphere, and spike-like shapes. This approach is universal for nanoparticles of various natures and compositions. We have prepared superstructures of the same architecture from alloyed quantum dots and their mixtures with gold nanoparticles. It was found that the concentration of gold nanoparticles strongly affects the QD optical properties in the superstructure: a 2.5-times PL enhancement for a 2% Au nanoparticle content is reported. We offer a detailed model describing the stages of superstructure formation and reveal the mechanisms behind this. Material-indifferent means of control over the shape and properties of self-assembled superstructures give us a new functional tool for developing metamaterials with potential applications in sensorics.

Highly intensive emission of the NV− centers in synthetic HPHT microdiamonds at low nitrogen doping

Synthetic high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) microdiamonds demonstrate strong resonant-like enhancement of the NV− photoluminescence (PL) at unexpectedly low concentration of the substitutional nitrogen atoms (NS) of 90 ppm, which is significantly smaller than the ∼250 ppm characteristic for conventional HPHT synthesis. The EPR, Raman, and luminescent spectroscopies, including time-resolved PL, provide evidence that this is due to competition between the increase in PL with increasing concentration of the NV− centers and nonradiative deactivation of these centers by defects induced by the NS in the diamond crystal lattice. It is suggested that the intensity of the NV− center emission can be optimized by the appropriate choice of nitrogen doping concentration which does not substantially disrupt the diamond crystal lattice.Synthetic high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) microdiamonds demonstrate strong resonant-like enhancement of the NV− photoluminescence (PL) at unexpectedly low concentration of the substitutional nitrogen atoms (NS) of 90 ppm, which is significantly smaller than the ∼250 ppm characteristic for conventional HPHT synthesis. The EPR, Raman, and luminescent spectroscopies, including time-resolved PL, provide evidence that this is due to competition between the increase in PL with increasing concentration of the NV− centers and nonradiative deactivation of these centers by defects induced by the NS in the diamond crystal lattice. It is suggested that the intensity of the NV− center emission can be optimized by the appropriate choice of nitrogen doping concentration which does not substantially disrupt the diamond crystal lattice.

Raman scattering governed by dark resonant modes in silicon nanoparticles

Analyzing the modal content of resonant nanostructures using optical methods often becomes a sophisticated problem because of hidden dark resonances, which are uncoupled with far-field modes. The common methods of dark modes spectroscopy base on electron beam systems, such as cathodo-luminescence and, thus, are not very convenient in use. We suggest utilizing Raman spectroscopy to reveal the full modal structure of nanoresonators. The suggested approach is tested on silicon nanoparticles placed on top of gold substrate. It allows detecting magnetic quadrupole modes, which are hard to observe with common dark-field spectroscopy. The experimental results are verified with numerical simulations.

Influence of the QD luminescence quantum yield on photocurrent in QD/graphene hybrid structures

Photoinduced changes in luminescent and photoelectrical properties of the hybrid structure based on CdSe/ZnS QDs and multilayer graphene nanobelts were studied. It was shown that an irradiation of the structures by 365 nm mercury line in doses up to 23 J led to growth of QD luminescent quantum yield and photocurrent in the QD/graphene structures. This confirms the proximity of the rates of the QD luminescence decay and energy/charge transfer from QDs to graphene, and opens an opportunity to photoinduced control of the photoelectric response of the graphene based hybrid structures with semiconductor quantum dots.