Hole-Induced Electron Transport through Core-Shell Quantum Dots: A Direct Measurement of the Electron-Hole Interaction

I. Swart, Z. Sun, D.A.M. Vanmaekelbergh, P. Liljeroth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Quantum dots (ODs) have promising optoelectronic properties. Colloidal OD heterostructures, systems in which two semiconductors are incorporated in a single colloid, may show novel and potentially useful transport phenomena. Here, we report on the physical mechanisms of charge transport through PbSe-CdSe core-shell QDs measured with cryogenic scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Compared to single-component QDs. an additional hole-induced electron tunneling channel is found. Electron tunneling with and without a hole occurs at different bias, allowing the determination of the electron-hole interaction energy (80 meV). This energy is sufficiently large to allow for a transport regime at room temperature in which electrons tunnel into the dot only if a hole is present, an ideal situation for controlled single-photon emission
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1931-1935
Number of pages5
JournalNano Letters
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Funding

We thank Wiel Evers and Celso de Mello Donega for providing the QDs and Christophe Delerue for discussions. This research was supported by the EU (ITN "HERODOT") and NWO (Chemical Sciences, Vidi-Grant 700.56.423, Rubicon Grant 680.50.0907).

Keywords

  • Core-shell quantum dots
  • scanning tunneling microscopy
  • scanning tunneling spectroscopy
  • single-electron tunneling
  • electron-hole interaction
  • ambipolar electron transport
  • SCANNING TUNNELING SPECTROSCOPY
  • SEMICONDUCTOR NANOCRYSTALS
  • MONODISPERSE NANOCRYSTALS
  • PBSE
  • HETEROSTRUCTURES
  • NANORODS
  • EXCHANGE
  • EMISSION
  • STATES

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