photophysics of single quantum dots and assemblies
the group has demonstrated that the blinking of single quantum dots depends on the dielectric properties of the local environment of the quantum dot. this suggests, that the blinking is inherently linked to a charging of the quantum dot and a charge transfer process to the local environment.
semiconductor nanocrystals are efficient and tunable light emitters due to quantum size effects. one of their surprising and still puzzeling properties can be observed on a single particle level. this is the so called blinking - a random switching behavior between an emitting an non-emitting state. it is the aim of the groups research to characterize the photophysical properties of quantum dots and to control their light emission, especially their blinking behavior.
tem image of CdSe quantum dots (taken by s. schulze)
defocused images of single
CdSe quantum dots compared
to theoretical calculations
emission intensity time trace of a single CdSe/ZnS quantum dot over a time period of 43 minutes
cdse quantum dots possess a 2d+1d transition moment due to the valence band structure, which can be revealed by defocused fluorescence imaging of single quantum dots
