In this paper, we review recent progress on colloidal growth of 2D nanocrystals. We identify the four main sources of anisotropy which lead to the formation of plate- and sheet-like colloidal nanomaterials. Defect-induced anisotropy is a growth method which relies on the presence of topological defects at the nanoscale to induce 2D shapes objects. Such a method is particularly important in the growth of metallic nano-objects. Another way to induce anisotropy is based on ligand engineering. The availability of some nanocrystal facets can be tuned by selectively covering the surface with ligands of tunable thickness. Cadmium chalcogenides nanoplatelets (NPLs) strongly rely on this method which offers atomic control in the thinner direction, down to a few monolayers. Two-dimensional objects can also be obtained by post or in situ self-assembly of nanocrystals. This growth method differs from the previous ones in the sense that the elementary objects are not molecular precursors and is a common method for lea...

/pdf/two-dimensional-colloidal-nanocrystals-fhfh8wu5f9.pdf

Two-Dimensional Colloidal Nanocrystals

Infrared thermal imaging devices rely on narrow band gap semiconductors grown by physical methods such as molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapor deposition. These technologies are expensive, and infrared detectors remain limited to defense and scientific applications. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) offer a low cost alternative to infrared detector by combining inexpensive synthesis and an ease of processing, but their performances are so far limited, in terms of both wavelength and sensitivity. Herein we propose a new generation of colloidal QD-based photodetectors, which demonstrate detectivity improved by 2 orders of magnitude, and optical absorption that can be continuously tuned between 3 and 20 μm. These photodetectors are based on the novel synthesis of n-doped HgSe colloidal QDs whose size can be tuned continuously between 5 and 40 nm, and on their assembly into solid nanocrystal films with mobilities that can reach up to 100 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). These devices can be operated at room temperature with the same level of performance as the previous generation of devices when operated at liquid nitrogen temperature. HgSe QDs can be synthesized in large scale (>10 g per batch), and we show that HgSe films can be processed to form a large scale array of pixels. Taken together, these results pave the way for the development of the next generation mid- and far-infrared low-cost detectors and camera.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01418828/document

Infrared Photodetection Based on Colloidal Quantum-Dot Films with High Mobility and Optical Absorption up to THz

Luminescent colloidal CdSe nanoplatelets with atomically defined thicknesses have recently been developed, and their potential for various applications has been shown. To understand their special properties, experiments have until now focused on the relatively short time scales of at most a few nanoseconds. Here, we measure the photoluminescence decay dynamics of colloidal nanoplatelets on time scales up to tens of microseconds. The excited state dynamics are found to be dominated by the slow (∼μs) dynamics of temporary exciton storage in a charge-separated state, previously overlooked. We study the processes of charge carrier separation and exciton recovery in pure CdSe nanoplatelets as well as in core–crown and core–shell CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets with high ensemble quantum yields of 50%, and discuss the implications. Our work highlights the importance of reversible charge carrier trapping and experiments over a wide range of time scales for the understanding of colloidal nanoemitters in general and nanopl...

Temporary Charge Carrier Separation Dominates the Photoluminescence Decay Dynamics of Colloidal CdSe Nanoplatelets.

Infrared photodetectors are finding widespread applications in telecommunication, motion detection, chemical sensing, thermal imaging and bio-medical imaging, etc. The nanostructured materials and architectures are attracting extensive interests in photodetectors in view of the potential benefits from confined light-matter interaction, fast carrier dynamics and ultrahigh photoconductive gains. This review concentrates on the photodetection in the infrared spectrum and recent progresses in constructing advanced infrared photodetectors based on quantum wells, dots, and the rapidly evolving 1D and 2D materials are summarized. The recent achievements in exploring nanostructured plasmonic metamaterials for the intriguing subwavelength photon confinement and waveguides in devices are also surveyed considering their importance in device integration. An outlook of infrared photodetection is given in the end as a guideline for this vigorous field.

Nanostructured Materials and Architectures for Advanced Infrared Photodetection

Effective utilization of excitation energy in nanoemitters requires control of exciton flow at the nanoscale. This can be readily achieved by exploiting near-field nonradiative energy transfer mechanisms such as dipole-dipole coupling (i.e., Forster resonance energy transfer) and simultaneous two-way electron transfer via exchange interaction (i.e., Dexter energy transfer). In this feature article, we review nonradiative energy transfer processes between emerging nanoemitters and exciton scavengers. To this end, we highlight the potential of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, organic semiconductors, and two-dimensional materials as efficient exciton scavengers for light harvesting and generation in optoelectronic applications. We present and discuss unprecedented exciton transfer in nanoemitter–nanostructured semiconductor composites enabled by strong light–matter interactions. We elucidate remarkably strong nonradiative energy transfer in self-assembling atomically flat colloidal nanoplatelets. In addition, we underscore the promise of organic semiconductor–nanocrystal hybrids for spin-triplet exciton harvesting via Dexter energy transfer. These efficient exciton transferring hybrids will empower desired optoelectronic properties such as long-range exciton diffusion, ultrafast multiexciton harvesting, and efficient photon upconversion, leading to the development of excitonic optoelectronic devices such as exciton-driven light-emitting diodes, lasers, and photodetectors.

/pdf/near-field-energy-transfer-using-nanoemitters-for-30c23w5lu8.pdf

Near-Field Energy Transfer Using Nanoemitters For Optoelectronics

Interparticle charge hopping severely limits the integration of colloidal nanocrystals films for optoelectronic device applications. We propose here to overcome this problem by using high aspect ratio interconnects made of wide electrodes separated by a few tens of namometers, a distance matching the size of a single nanoplatelet. The semiconducting CdSe/CdS nanoplatelet coupling with such electrodes allows an efficient electron–hole pair dissociation despite the large binding energy of the exciton, resulting in optimal photoconductance responsivity. We report the highest responsivity obtained so far for CdSe colloidal material with values reaching kA·W–1, corresponding to eight decades of enhancement compared to usual micrometer-scaled architectures. In addition, a decrease of 1 order of magnitude of the current noise is observed, revealing the reduced influence of the surface traps on transport. The nanotrench geometry provides top access to ion gel electrolyte gating, allowing for a photoresponsive transistor with 104 on/off ratio. A simple analytical model reproduces the device behavior and underlines the key parameters related to its performance.

/pdf/nanoplatelets-bridging-a-nanotrench-a-new-architecture-for-1wapz9r28r.pdf

Nanoplatelets Bridging a Nanotrench: A New Architecture for Photodetectors with Increased Sensitivity

Colloidal nanocrystals are promising materials for achieving low cost optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we focus on the transport and photo transport properties of 2D nanoplatelet thin films and their use for photodetection. We present evidence that improved performances relies on good trap passivation as well as overcoming the inherent large exciton binding energy of the 2D NPL. This can be achieved using a phototransistor configuration with transport at the single particle scale (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

/pdf/phototransport-in-colloidal-nanoplatelets-array-187nne6jjy.pdf

Daniel O. Thomas

Papers

Nanoplatelets Bridging a Nanotrench: A New Architecture for Photodetectors with Increased Sensitivity

Phototransport in colloidal nanoplatelets array