Single-nanocrystal spectroscopy of white-light-emitting CdSe nanocrystals

J Phys Chem A. 2011 Apr 28;115(16):4076-81. doi: 10.1021/jp1109509. Epub 2011 Feb 22.

Abstract

We report the observation of broad-spectrum fluorescence from single CdSe nanocrystals. Individual semiconductor nanocrystals typically have a narrower emission spectrum than that of an ensemble. However, our experiments show that the ensemble white-light emission observed in ultrasmall CdSe nanocrystals is the result of many single CdSe nanocrystals, each emitting over the entire visible spectrum. These results indicate that each white-light-emitting CdSe nanocrystal contains all the trap states that give rise to the observed white-light emission.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cadmium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Selenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Cadmium Compounds
  • Selenium Compounds
  • cadmium selenide