Open AccessSuppressing the photobleaching and photoluminescence intermittency of single near-infrared CdSeTe/ZnS quantum dots with p-phenylenediamine
Author(s) -
Cheng Yang,
Guofeng Zhang,
Liheng Feng,
Li Bin,
Zhijie Li,
Ruiyun Chen,
Chengbing Qin,
Yan Gao,
Suotang Jia
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.011889
Subject(s) - photobleaching , quantum dot , photoluminescence , materials science , infrared , ionization , optoelectronics , intermittency , photon counting , photochemistry , photon , fluorescence , optics , physics , chemistry , ion , quantum mechanics , turbulence , thermodynamics
Intrinsic photobleaching and photoluminescence (PL) intermittency of single quantum dots (QDs), originating from photo-oxidation and photo-ionization respectively, are roadblocks for most single-dot applications. Here, we effectively suppress the photobleaching and the PL intermittency of single near-infrared emitting QDs with p-phenylenediamine (PPD). The PPD cannot only be used as a high-efficient reducing agent to remove reactive oxygen species around QDs to suppress the photo-oxidation, but can also bond with the surface defect sites of single QDs to reduce electron trap states to suppress the photo-ionization. It is shown that the survival time of single QDs, the on-state probability of PL intensity traces, and the total number of emitted photons are significantly increased for single QDs in PPD compared with that on glass coverslip.