Quantum Optoelectronics

Abstract:

We demonstrate that semiconductor quantum dots can be excited efficiently in a resonant three-photon process, whilst resonant two-photon excitation is highly suppressed. Time-dependent Floquet theory is used to quantify the strength of the multi-photon processes and model the experimental results. The efficiency of these transitions can be drawn directly from parity considerations in the electron and hole wavefunctions in semiconductor quantum dots. Finally, we exploit this technique to probe intrinsic properties of InGaN quantum dots. In contrast to non-resonant excitation, slow relaxation of charge carriers is avoided which allows us to measure directly the radiative lifetime of the lowest energy exciton states. Since the emission energy is detuned far from the resonant driving laser field, polarization filtering is not required and emission with a greater degree of linear polarization is observed compared to non-resonant excitation.

Abstract:

The main challenges in the optical and morphological tuning of highly stable orange-emitting Mn-doped perovskite include achieving uniform dopant distribution, maintaining structural integrity under varying environmental conditions, and optimizing luminescent efficiency while minimizing non-radiative recombination pathways. This study presents a novel, one-step, water-induced ultrafast synthesis strategy for obtaining Mn-doped mixed-halide perovskites at room temperature. This technique offers morphological control by varying the amount of water-based precursor, allowing the tuning of resulting nanostructures to produce nanoplatelets, nanocubes, or nanowires. In the growth mechanism, Mn2+ dopants affect the crystal structure by promoting stable growth and uniform doping at higher concentrations, while water improves ion dispersion, reaction kinetics, and passivation, facilitating optimal crystal growth and the formation of desired nanostructure morphologies. The synthesized Mn:CsPbBr3−xClx NCs form a highly stable colloidal solution with approximately 100 % emission stability for up to one year under ambient conditions and retain 98.9 % of its photoluminescence after aging at 85 °C for 200 h. We also explore the PL mechanism in Mn:CsPbBr3-xClx NCs, where temperature-dependent PL analysis reveals energy transfer from CsPbBr3-xClx exciton states to Mn2+-doped levels, enhancing PL intensity, with both exciton and Mn2+ emissions exhibiting a blue shift as the temperature increased from 6 K to 300 K, attributed to lattice expansion and electron–phonon interactions. A warm white light emission is achieved with excellent stability and an exceptionally wide color gamut coverage. The proposed strategy has the potential to enable large-scale synthesis and fabrication of highly stable perovskite devices for high-quality display and lighting applications.

Abstract:

The accelerating growth of the hydrogen (H2) economy is pivotal for achieving large-scale decarbonization of current energy resources. Ensuring safe and efficient handling of this potentially hazardous resource has led to an increasing demand for fast, selective and reliable H2 sensors. In this work, we report a nanohybrid H2 sensing platform comprising uniformly dispersed AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) embedded in a ZnO-based metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) matrix infiltrated within an anodized porous silicon (PSi) framework. This hybrid design (PSi-MOS#AuPd) synergistically merges the strong chemisorption affinity and rapid desorption kinetics of Pd with the enhanced catalytic activity and electronic modulation imparted by Au[sbnd]Pd interactions. Precise control over BNPs thickness (~ 8.6 nm) ensures uniform dispersion and effectively mitigates the inherent volume expansion of Pd during hydrogenation, maintaining structural integrity and catalytic efficiency. The PSi support characterized by high porosity (~1.1 μm) and superhydrophobicity (θw = 153.6° ± 0.2°), promotes efficient gas diffusion and enhances humidity resilience. The resulting sensor exhibits remarkable performance, including high sensitivity ~46 %@50 ppm, low-operating temperature (~90 °C), rapid response time (~14 s), excellent stability over 60 days and strong selectivity against interfering gases (H2S, NH3, NO2, and CO) under varying humidity conditions (25–85 % RH). This work paves the way for the advancement of H2 sensors and highlights the potential of substrate engineering and bimetallic synergy in enhancing gas sensing technology for safety-critical applications.

Abstract:

Abstract Advancements in utilizing low refractive index dielectric particles have implications for sensing, lasing, and strong‐coupling at nano and microscopic scales. These cavities offer benefits like ease of fabrication and biocompatibility, making them promising for a wide range of technologies by utilizing their narrow linewidth modes. However, optical modes sustained in these dispersive systems can show distinct behaviors depending on the detection configuration. This study shows the influence of numerical aperture (NA) of the objective lens on the detection of Mie modes in a dielectric microsphere under far‐field excitation and collection. It is demonstrated experimentally and numerically that Mie modes from microspheres outcouple at different angles, with variations in mode amplitudes contingent on the NA of the objective lens, thus leading to distinct linewidths while probing with different NA objectives. Furthermore, it is shown that metallic substrates can facilitate efficient detection of Mie modes by redirecting scattered modes towards low angles. This enables mode detection with low NA lenses and further preventing the inclusion of incident scattered light from higher angles which otherwise perturb the modes. The results underline the importance of careful detection strategies to fully harness dielectric particles as optical platforms for applications in particle detection and characterization.