Chemically Triggered Formation of Two-Dimensional Epitaxial Quantum Dot Superlattices

Autor: Jolien Dendooven, Ivan Infante, Emile Drijvers, Christophe Detavernier, Eduardo Solano, Willem Walravens, Jonathan De Roo, Zeger Hens, Stephanie ten Brinck
Přispěvatelé: Theoretical Chemistry, AIMMS
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2016
Předmět:
LIGAND-EXCHANGE
Materials science
MONO LAYERS
Superlattice
PBSE NANOCRYSTALS
General Physics and Astronomy
LIQUID-AIR INTERFACE
quantum-dot solid
surface chemistry
02 engineering and technology
010402 general chemistry
Epitaxy
01 natural sciences
SEMICONDUCTOR-NANOCRYSTAL SUPERLATTICES
ENTROPY-DRIVEN FORMATION
SURFACE-CHEMISTRY
Condensed Matter::Materials Science
COLLOIDAL NANOCRYSTALS
ELECTRON TOMOGRAPHY
General Materials Science
nanomaterials
Condensed matter physics
General Engineering
Charge (physics)
self-assembly
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Condensed Matter::Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect
0104 chemical sciences
Chemistry
Nanocrystal
Quantum dot
Chemical physics
Charge carrier
Density functional theory
PbSe
FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS
0210 nano-technology
Stoichiometry
Zdroj: ACS Nano, 10(7), 6861-6870. American Chemical Society
ACS Nano
Walravens, W, De Roo, J, Drijvers, E, Ten Brinck, S, Solano, E, Dendooven, J, Detavernier, C, Infante, I & Hens, Z 2016, ' Chemically Triggered Formation of Two-Dimensional Epitaxial Quantum Dot Superlattices ', ACS Nano, vol. 10, no. 7, pp. 6861-6870 . https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6b02562
ACS NANO
ISSN: 1936-0851
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b02562
Popis: Two dimensional superlattices of epitaxially connected quantum dots enable size-quantization effects to be combined with high charge carrier mobilities, an essential prerequisite for highly performing QD devices based on charge transport. Here, we demonstrate that surface active additives known to restore nanocrystal stoichiometry can trigger the formation of epitaxial superlattices of PbSe and PbS quantum dots. More specifically, we show that both chalcogen-adding (sodium sulfide) and lead oleate displacing (amines) additives induce small area epitaxial superlattices of PbSe quantum dots. In the latter case, the amine basicity is a sensitive handle to tune the superlattice symmetry, with strong and weak bases yielding pseudohexagonal or quasi-square lattices, respectively. Through density functional theory calculations and in situ titrations monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we link this observation to the concomitantly different coordination enthalpy and ligand displacement potency of the amine. Next to that, an initial ∼10% reduction of the initial ligand density prior to monolayer formation and addition of a mild, lead oleate displacing chemical trigger such as aniline proved key to induce square superlattices with long-range, square micrometer order; an effect that is the more pronounced the larger the quantum dots. Because the approach applies to PbS quantum dots as well, we conclude that it offers a reproducible and rational method for the formation of highly ordered epitaxial quantum dot superlattices. KEYWORDS: nanomaterials, PbSe, self-assembly, quantum-dot solid, surface chemistry C olloidal nanocrystals made by highly precise synthesis methods such as hot injection have been widely used as building blocks of self-assembled nanocrystal superlattices. 1−5 Especially in the case of semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs), formation of highly involved binary or ternary superstructures has been demon-strated, 6−10 the symmetry of which could be rationalized using hard sphere crystallization theory. 10−13 Whereas this provides ample possibilities to combine different nanocrystals in a single ordered crystal, only a few studies have shown such an approach to result in metamaterials with new or enhanced properties. 14−16 For one thing, this is due to the use of nanocrystal building blocks capped by long, organic ligands, which inevitably leads to electrically insulating nanocrystal solids. Therefore, optoelectronic devices, such as transis-tors, 17−19 solar cells, 20−23 or photodetectors, 24−26 are based on disordered QD solids, where the interparticle distance is usually decreased by exchanging the long organic ligands with shorter organic or inorganic moieties. 27−31 Although this makes for QD devices with ever increasing performance, carrier mobilities remain well below 10 cm 2 V −1 s −1 and the approach leaves no room for any symmetry-induced collective effects.
Databáze: OpenAIRE