Date of Completion

6-19-2017

Embargo Period

6-19-2018

Keywords

Quantum dots, Single photon sources, Metal nanoparticles, Plasmon-Exciton coupling, Photon Antibunching

Major Advisor

Dr. Jing Zhao

Associate Advisor

Dr. Xudong Yao

Associate Advisor

Dr. Yu Lei

Field of Study

Chemistry

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Open Access

Open Access

Abstract

Recent scientific progress has resulted in the development of sophisticated hybrid nanostructures composed of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QDs) and metal nanoparticles (MNPs). These hybrid structures open up new possibilities for developing next generation nanoscale optoelectronic devices that combine the best attributes of each component material.The optical response of MNPs is dominated by surface plasmon resonances which create large local electromagnetic field enhancements. When coupled to surrounding semiconductor components, the enhanced local electric field results in strong absorption/emission, alteration in emission decay rates, enhancement in exciton emission and other interesting non-linear effects (multiphoton generation). Although hybrid nanostructures are poised to be utilized in a variety of applications, serious hurdles for the design of new devices still remain. These difficulties largely result from a poor understanding of how the structural components interact at the nanoscale. These synergetic interactions strongly depend on the exact composition and geometry of the structure, and therefore, a quantitative comparison between theory and experiment is often difficult to achieve.

My dissertation work primarily focuses on paving a bridge between the experimental and theoretical studies and the mechanisms involved in exciton and multiexciton emission dynamics of single QDs in presence of plasmonic nanostructures by careful consideration of different parameters which significantly affect the interaction between these nanoparticles at a single particle level.

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