Sergei A. Ivanov

Single-exciton optical gain in semiconductor nanocrystals

Nanocrystal quantum dots have favourable light-emitting properties. They show photoluminescence with high quantum yields, and their emission colours depend on the nanocrystal size—owing to the quantum-confinement effect—and are therefore tunable. However, nanocrystals are difficult to use in optical amplification and lasing. Because of an almost exact balance between absorption and stimulated emission in nanoparticles excited with single electron–hole pairs (excitons), optical gain can only occur in nanocrystals that contain at least two excitons. A complication associated with this multiexcitonic nature of light amplification is fast optical-gain decay induced by non-radiative Auger recombination, a process in which one exciton recombines by transferring its energy to another. Here we demonstrate a practical approach for obtaining optical gain in the single-exciton regime that eliminates the problem of Auger decay. Specifically, we develop core/shell hetero-nanocrystals engineered in such a way as to spatially separate electrons and holes between the core and the shell (type-II heterostructures). The resulting imbalance between negative and positive charges produces a strong local electric field, which induces a giant (∼100 meV or greater) transient Stark shift of the absorption spectrum with respect to the luminescence line of singly excited nanocrystals. This effect breaks the exact balance between absorption and stimulated emission, and allows us to demonstrate optical amplification due to single excitons.

Effect of Surface Ligands on Optical and Electronic Spectra of Semiconductor Nanoclusters

We investigate the impact of ligands on the morphology, electronic structure, and optical response of the Cd(33)Se(33) cluster, which overlaps in size with the smallest synthesized CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs). Our density functional theory calculations demonstrate significant surface reorganization for both the bare cluster and the cluster capped with amine or phosphine oxide model ligands. We observe strong surface-ligand interactions leading to substantial charge redistribution and polarization effects on the surface. These effects result in the development of hybridized states, for which the electronic density is spread over the cluster and the ligands. The loss of one of the passivating ligands leads to either optically dark or bright additional states inside of the band gap, depending on the position of the leaving ligand on the QD surface. However, for fully ligated QDs, neither the ligand-localized nor hybridized molecular orbitals appear as trap states inside or near the band gap of the QD. Instead, being mostly optically dark, dense hybridized states could open new relaxation channels for high-energy photoexcitations. Comparing QDs passivated by different ligands, we also found that hybridized states are denser at the edge of the conduction band of the cluster ligated with phosphine oxide molecules than that with primary amines. Such a different manifestation of ligand binding may potentially lead to faster electron relaxation in QDs passivated by phosphine oxide than by amine ligands.

Surface Ligands Increase Photoexcitation Relaxation Rates in CdSe Quantum Dots

Understanding the pathways of hot exciton relaxation in photoexcited semiconductor nanocrystals, also called quantum dots (QDs), is of paramount importance in multiple energy, electronics and biological applications. An important nonradiative relaxation channel originates from the nonadiabatic (NA) coupling of electronic degrees of freedom to nuclear vibrations, which in QDs depend on the confinement effects and complicated surface chemistry. To elucidate the role of surface ligands in relaxation processes of nanocrystals, we study the dynamics of the NA exciton relaxation in Cd(33)Se(33) semiconductor quantum dots passivated by either trimethylphosphine oxide or methylamine ligands using explicit time-dependent modeling. The large extent of hybridization between electronic states of quantum dot and ligand molecules is found to strongly facilitate exciton relaxation. Our computational results for the ligand contributions to the exciton relaxation and electronic energy-loss in small clusters are further extrapolated to larger quantum dots.

Quantum chemistry of the minimal CdSe clusters

Colloidal quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) which have stimulated a great deal of research and have attracted technical interest in recent years due to their chemical stability and the tunability of photophysical properties. While internal structure of large quantum dots is similar to bulk, their surface structure and passivating role of capping ligands (surfactants) are not fully understood to date. We apply ab initio wavefunction methods, density functional theory, and semiempirical approaches to study the passivation effects of substituted phosphine and amine ligands on the minimal cluster Cd(2)Se(2), which is also used to benchmark different computational methods versus high level ab initio techniques. Full geometry optimization of Cd(2)Se(2) at different theory levels and ligand coverage is used to understand the affinities of various ligands and the impact of ligands on cluster structure. Most possible bonding patterns between ligands and surface CdSe atoms are considered, including a ligand coordinated to Se atoms. The degree of passivation of Cd and Se atoms (one or two ligands attached to one atom) is also studied. The results suggest that B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory is appropriate for the system modeling, whereas frequently used semiempirical methods (such as AM1 and PM3) produce unphysical results. The use of hydrogen atom for modeling of the cluster passivating ligands is found to yield unphysical results as well. Hence, the surface termination of II-VI semiconductor NCs with hydrogen atoms often used in computational models should probably be avoided. Basis set superposition error, zero-point energy, and thermal corrections, as well as solvent effects simulated with polarized continuum model are found to produce minor variations on the ligand binding energies. The effects of Cd-Se complex structure on both the electronic band gap (highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy difference) and ligand binding energies are systematically examined. The role played by positive charges on ligand binding is also explored. The calculated binding energies for various ligands L are found to decrease in the order OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>NH(2)Me>/=NH(3)>/=NMe(3)>PMe(3)>PH(3) for neutral clusters and OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>PMe(3)>/=NMe(3)>/=NH(2)Me>/=NH(3)>PH(3) and OPMe(3)>OPH(3)>NH(2)Me>/=NMe(3)>/=PMe(3)>/=NH(3)>PH(3) for single and double ligations of positively charged Cd(2)Se(2) (2+) cluster, respectively.

Layered ternary sulfide CuSbS2 nanoplates for flexible solid-state supercapacitors

Layer-structured materials are advantageous for supercapacitor applications owing to their ability to host a variety of atoms or ions, large ionic conductivity and high surface area. In particular, ternary or higher-order layered materials provide a unique opportunity to develop stable supercapacitor devices with high specific capacitance values by offering additional redox sites combined with the flexibility of tuning the interlayer distance by substitution. CuSbS2 is a ternary layered sulfide material that is composed of sustainable and less-toxic elements. We report the results of a systematic study of CuSbS2 nanoplates of varying thickness (4.3 ± 1.4 to 105 ± 5.5 nm) for use as supercapacitors along with the effect of ionic size of electrolyte ions on the specific capacitance and long-term cycling performance behavior. We have obtained specific capacitance values as high as 120 F g−1 for nanoplates with thickness of 55 ± 6.5 nm using LiOH electrolyte. Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory predict that with complete surface coverage by electrolyte ions a specific capacitance of over 1160 F g−1 is achievable using CuSbS2, making it a very attractive layer-structured material for supercapacitor applications. Additionally, the calculations indicate that lithium ions can be intercalated between the van der Waals layers without significantly distorting the CuSbS2 structure, thereby further enhancing the specific capacitance by 85 F g−1. Quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitor devices fabricated using CuSbS2 nanoplates exhibit an aerial capacitance value of 40 mF cm−2 with excellent cyclic stability and no loss of specific capacitance at various bending angles. Moreover, the supercapacitors are operable over a wide temperature range. We have further compared the electrochemical behavior of CuSbS2 with other non-layered phases in the system, namely Cu3SbS3, Cu3SbS4 and Cu12Sb4S13 that clearly highlight the importance of the layered structure for enhancing charge storage.

High-temperature ZnSe:Mn/ZnS nanophosphors with very high quantum efficiency for white LEDs

We have synthesized ZnSe:Mn/ZnS doped core/shell quantum dots with high temperature stability and 91.0% quantum efficiency at the 597 nm emission with 412 nm excitation, very attractive as nanophosphors for white LEDs.

Ligand-Mediated Nucleation and Growth of Palladium Metal Nanoparticles

The size, size distribution and stability of colloidal nanoparticles are greatly affected by the presence of capping ligands. Despite the key contribution of capping ligands during the synthesis reaction, their role in regulating the nucleation and growth rates of colloidal nanoparticles is not well understood. In this work, we demonstrate a mechanistic investigation of the role of trioctylphosphine (TOP) in Pd nanoparticles in different solvents (toluene and pyridine) using in situ SAXS and ligand-based kinetic modeling. Our results under different synthetic conditions reveal the overlap of nucleation and growth of Pd nanoparticles during the reaction, which contradicts the LaMer-type nucleation and growth model. The model accounts for the kinetics of Pd-TOP binding for both, the precursor and the particle surface, which is essential to capture the size evolution as well as the concentration of particles in situ. In addition, we illustrate the predictive power of our ligand-based model through designing the synthetic conditions to obtain nanoparticles with desired sizes. The proposed methodology can be applied to other synthesis systems and therefore serves as an effective strategy for predictive synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles.

Two polymorphs of chlorido(cyclohexyldiphenylphosphine)gold(I).

The title compound, [AuCl(C(18)H(21)P)], a monomeric two-coordinate gold(I) complex, has been characterized at 100 K as two distinct monoclinic polymorphs, one from a single crystal, (Is), and one from a pseudo-merohedrally twinned crystal, (It). The molecular structures in the two monoclinic [P2(1)/n for (Is) and P2(1)/c for (It)] polymorphs are similar; however, the packing arrangements in the two lattices differ considerably. The structure of (It) is pseudo-merohedrally twinned by a twofold rotation about the a* axis.

Effects of iron-oxide nanoparticles on compound biofilms of streptococcus gordonii and fusobacterium nucleatum

The human mouth is a host of a large gamut of bacteria species, with over 700 of different bacteria strains identified. Most of these bacterial species are harmless, some are beneficial (such as probiotics assisting in food digestion), but some are responsible for various diseases, primarily tooth decay and gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental plaque has a complicated structure that varies from patient to patient, but a common factor in most cases is the single species of bacterium acting as a secondary colonizer, namely Fusobacterium nucleatum, while the actual disease is caused by a variety of tertiary colonizers. We hypothesize that destruction of a compound biofilm containing Fusobacterium nucleatum will prevent tertiary colonizers (oral pathogens) from establishing a biofilm, and thus will protect the patient from developing gingivitis and periodontitis. In this paper, we report on the effects of exposure of compound biofilms of a primary colonizer Streptococcus gordonii combined with Fusobacterium nucleatum to iron oxide nanoparticles as possible bactericidal agent.

Synthesis and characterization of colloidal ZnTe nanocrystals and ZnTe/ZnSe quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) emitting in the visible are of interest for many biomedical applications, including bioimaging, biosensing, drug targeting, and photodynamic therapy. However, a significant limitation is that QDs typically contain cadmium, which makes prospects for their FDA approval very unlikely. Previous work has focused on InP and ZnO as alternative semiconductor materials for QDs. However, these nanoparticles have also been shown to be cytotoxic. High-efficiency luminescent ZnTe-based QDs could be a reasonable alternative to Cd-containing QDs. In this paper, we present preliminary results of our recent studies of ZnTe-based QDs, including their synthesis, structural characterization, and optical properties.