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Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum

Publication ,  Journal Article
De Paoli Lacerda, SH; Douglas, JF; Hudson, SD; Roy, M; Johnson, JM; Becker, ML; Karim, A
Published in: ACS Nano
November 1, 2007

We exploit the polytypism of group II-VI semiconductors and the long-range dipolar interactions typical of CdSe nanoparticle formation to modulate the geometrical structure and the optical emission properties of novel branched CdSe nanocrystals through shape-dependent quantum confinement effects. X-ray diffraction confirms that these materials incorporate crystalline domains of cubic zinc-blende and hexagonal wurtzite within a polycrystalline growth form whose geometry can be controlled by varying thermodynamic conditions. In particular, labyrinthine-shaped nanoparticles of tunable dimensions are reproducibly synthesized based on a heterogeneous reaction between cadmium acetate in a solution in hexadecylamine and trioctylphosphine with Se as a solid precursor at a relatively low temperature (110 °C). The resulting highly branched CdSe structures resemble labyrinthine patterns observed in magnetic fluids and superconductors films in magnetic fields, and in lipid films and other materials where strong dipolar interactions "direct" large-scale pattern formation. Surprisingly, these novel maze-like structures emit light within a narrow bandwidth (full-width at half-maximum ≈33- 42 nm) of the visible spectrum (508 nm< λ<563 nm), so the regular dimensions of the core regions of these branched structures govern their emission characteristics rather than overall nanoparticle size. This property should make these materials attractive for applications where luminescent materials having tunable emission characteristics and a narrow emission frequency range are required, along with the insensitivity of the particles' luminescent properties to environmental conditions. © 2007 by the American Chemical Society.

Duke Scholars

Published In

ACS Nano

DOI

EISSN

1936-086X

ISSN

1936-0851

Publication Date

November 1, 2007

Volume

1

Issue

4

Start / End Page

337 / 347

Related Subject Headings

  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
De Paoli Lacerda, S. H., Douglas, J. F., Hudson, S. D., Roy, M., Johnson, J. M., Becker, M. L., & Karim, A. (2007). Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum. ACS Nano, 1(4), 337–347. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn700111c
De Paoli Lacerda, S. H., J. F. Douglas, S. D. Hudson, M. Roy, J. M. Johnson, M. L. Becker, and A. Karim. “Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum.” ACS Nano 1, no. 4 (November 1, 2007): 337–47. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn700111c.
De Paoli Lacerda SH, Douglas JF, Hudson SD, Roy M, Johnson JM, Becker ML, et al. Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum. ACS Nano. 2007 Nov 1;1(4):337–47.
De Paoli Lacerda, S. H., et al. “Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum.” ACS Nano, vol. 1, no. 4, Nov. 2007, pp. 337–47. Scopus, doi:10.1021/nn700111c.
De Paoli Lacerda SH, Douglas JF, Hudson SD, Roy M, Johnson JM, Becker ML, Karim A. Quantum Mazes: Luminescent Labyrinthine Semiconductor Nanocrystals Having a Narrow Emission Spectrum. ACS Nano. 2007 Nov 1;1(4):337–347.
Journal cover image

Published In

ACS Nano

DOI

EISSN

1936-086X

ISSN

1936-0851

Publication Date

November 1, 2007

Volume

1

Issue

4

Start / End Page

337 / 347

Related Subject Headings

  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology