Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have developed HgX quantum-confined nanoplatelets for the tunability of shortwave infrared emission for broader photoelectronic applications.
Background:
The use of photons in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral window are utilized in multiple applications such as imaging, energy conversion, and telecommunications. Current materials utilized for SWIR emission are PbX analogues (X= Se or Te). The use of PbX analogues in SWIR for the use of fluorescence microscopy has already demonstrated great background-free deep tissue imaging in animals. However the use of SWIR with other fluorescent materials has not been explored and this may expand the applications in sensing chemical and biochemical changes in complex and opaque environments. Therefore, there is the need to develop new materials that can allow the tunability of infrared emission and provide the potential platform for novel applications.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry developed a quantum-confined mercury chalcogenide (HgX) nanoplatelets (NPLs) to emit bright and tunable infrared emission from attached quantum dot (QD) defect states. The developed material enabled controlled midgap emission from NPLs, which demonstrated energy-dependent lifetimes with radiative rates 10-20 times faster than those of PbX analogues in the same spectral window. Furthermore, and the material demonstrated high quantum yield (QY>30%). The use of tunable infrared emission could provide potential for novel optoelectronic applications in SWIR such as light-emitting diodes, sensors, and single-photon -emitters.
Potential Applications:
- Imaging
- High-flux light emission technologies
- Sensors
- Single-photon emitters
- Diodes
- Optoelectronics
- Analysis in opaque environments
Advantages:
- High quantum yield
- Tunable emission
- Fast radiative rates
Status of Development:
First successful demonstration of quantum dot kinetically tunable emission.
Related Papers:
Tenney, S. M.; Vilchez, V.; Sonnleitner, M. L.; Huang, C.; Friedman, H. C.; Shin, A. J.; Atallah, T. L.; Deshmukh, A. P.; Ithurria, S.; Caram, J. R. “ Mercury Chalcogenide Nanoplatelet-Quantum Dot Heterostructures as a New Class of Continuously Tunable Bright Shortwave Infrared Emitters” J. Phis. Chem. Lett. 2020, 11, 3473-3480.