Cadmium- and zinc-alloyed Cu–In–S nanocrystals and their optical properties

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 15; no. 11; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Huang, Liming, Zhu, Xiaoshan, Publicover, Nelson G., Hunter, Kenneth W., Ahmadiantehrani, Mojtaba, de Bettencourt-Dias, Ana, Bell, Thomas W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: ALLOYING; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanocrystals; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Cadmium; Synthesis; Photoluminescence; Copper–indium–sulfide; Quantum yield; Alloyed semiconductor nanocrystals; Zinc; Semiconductor alloys; Defect density; Thermal decomposition; Luminescence; Surface alloying; Spectral line shift; Copper―indium―sulfide; Surface defect; Experimental design; Copper alloys; Optical properties; Copper sulfide; Alloying; Indium sulfide; Nanostructured materials; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-2056-9

Cadmium (Cd)- and zinc (Zn)-alloyed copper–indium–sulfide (Cu–In–S or CIS) nanocrystals (NCs) several nanometers in diameter were prepared using thermal decomposition methods, and the effects of Cd and Zn on optical properties, including the tuning of NC photoluminescence (PL) wavelength and quantum yield (QY), were investigated. It was found that incorporation of Cd into CIS enhances the peak QY of NCs whereas Zn alloying diminishes the peak. In contrast with Zn alloying, Cd alloying does not result in a pronounced luminescence blue shift. The further PL decay study suggests that Cd alloying reduces surface or intrinsic defects whereas alloying with Zn increases the overall number of defects.