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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Mercury Chalcogenide Nanoplatelet-Quantum Dot Heterostructures as a New Class of Continuously Tunable Bright
Stephanie M Tenney1, Victoria Vilchez1, Mikayla L Sonnleitner1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States.
Abstract:
Despite broad applications in imaging, energy conversion, and telecommunications, few nanoscale moieties emit light efficiently in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000-2000 nm or 1.24-0.62 eV). We report quantum-confined mercury chalcogenide (HgX, where X = Se or Te) nanoplatelets (NPLs) can be induced to emit bright (QY > 30%) and tunable (900-1500+ nm) infrared emission from attached quantum dot (QD) "defect" states. We demonstrate near unity energy transfer from NPL to these QDs, which completely quench NPL emission and emit with a high QY through the SWIR. This QD defect emission is kinetically tunable, enabling controlled midgap emission from NPLs. Spectrally resolved photoluminescence demonstrates energy-dependent lifetimes, with radiative rates 10-20 times faster than those of their PbX analogues in the same spectral window. Coupled with their high quantum yield, midgap emission HgX dots on HgX NPLs provide a potential platform for novel optoelectronics in the SWIR.
