Symmetry considerations in CdSe nanocrystals

Geometry strategy for engineering the recombination possibility of excitons in nanowires

We proposed a geometry strategy to engineer the radiative recombination possibility and thus the lifetime of excitons in nanowires of some photovoltaic semiconductors by using theoretical analysis and first-principles calculations. We demonstrated that the shape can engineer the symmetry of the wave-functions of band-edge states and influence the radiative recombination possibility. The nanowires need to satisfy the following requirements to forbid the radiative recombination possibility of band-edge excitons: (i) wurtzite structure; (ii) pxy-characterized wave-function of VBM state and (iii) C3v-symmetry shape. The geometrical symmetry results in the pxy-characterized C3v-symmetry wave-function of VBM state and leads to forbidden radiative recombination of band-edge excitons. The geometry strategy offers a flexible proposal to prolong the exciton lifetime, leaving optical absorption impregnable.

Passivating ligand and solvent contributions to the electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals

We examine in detail the impact of passivating ligands (i.e., amines, phosphines, phosphine oxides and pyridines) on the electronic and optical spectra of Cd(33)Se(33) quantum dots (QDs) using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) quantum-chemical methodologies. Most ligand orbitals are found deep inside in the valence and conduction bands of the QD, with pyridine being an exception by introducing new states close to the conduction band edge. Importantly, all ligands contribute states which are highly delocalized over both the QD surface and ligands, forming hybridized orbitals rather than ligand-localized trap states. In contrast, the states close to the band gap are delocalized over the QD atoms only and define the lower energy absorption spectra. The random detachment of one of ligands from the QD surface results in the appearance of a highly localized unoccupied state inside the energy gap of the QD. Such changes in the electronic structure are correlated with the respective QD-ligand binding energy and steric ligand-ligand interactions. Polar solvent significantly reduces both effects leading to delocalization and stabilization of the surface states. Thus, trap and surface states are substantially eliminated by the solvent. Polar solvent also blue-shifts (e.g., 0.3-0.4 eV in acetonitrile) the calculated absorption spectra. This shift increases with an increase of the dielectric constant of the solvent. We also found that the approximate single-particle Kohn-Sham (KS) approach is adequate for calculating the absorption spectra of the ligated QDs. Besides a systematic blue-shift, the KS spectra are in very good agreement with their respective counterparts calculated with the more accurate TDDFT method.

Effect of surface ligands on optical and electronic spectra of semiconductor nanoclusters

We investigate the impact of ligands on the morphology, electronic structure, and optical response of the Cd(33)Se(33) cluster, which overlaps in size with the smallest synthesized CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs). Our density functional theory calculations demonstrate significant surface reorganization for both the bare cluster and the cluster capped with amine or phosphine oxide model ligands. We observe strong surface-ligand interactions leading to substantial charge redistribution and polarization effects on the surface. These effects result in the development of hybridized states, for which the electronic density is spread over the cluster and the ligands. The loss of one of the passivating ligands leads to either optically dark or bright additional states inside of the band gap, depending on the position of the leaving ligand on the QD surface. However, for fully ligated QDs, neither the ligand-localized nor hybridized molecular orbitals appear as trap states inside or near the band gap of the QD. Instead, being mostly optically dark, dense hybridized states could open new relaxation channels for high-energy photoexcitations. Comparing QDs passivated by different ligands, we also found that hybridized states are denser at the edge of the conduction band of the cluster ligated with phosphine oxide molecules than that with primary amines. Such a different manifestation of ligand binding may potentially lead to faster electron relaxation in QDs passivated by phosphine oxide than by amine ligands.

Effects of hydroxyl group distribution on the reactivity, stability and optical properties of fullerenols

We investigate the impact of hydroxyl groups on the properties of C(60)(OH)(n) systems, with n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 16, 18, 24, 32 and 36 by means of first-principles density functional theory calculations. A detailed analysis from the local density of states has shown that adsorbed OH groups can induce dangling bonds in specific carbon atoms around the adsorption site. This increases the tendency to form polyhydroxylated fullerenes (fullerenols). The structural stability is analyzed in terms of the calculated formation enthalpy of each species. Also, a careful examination of the electron density of states for different fullerenols shows the possibility of synthesizing single molecules with tunable optical properties.

Nanocrystalline nanowires: I. Structure

Geometric constructions of possible atomic arrangements are suggested for inorganic nanowires. These are fragments of bulk crystals, and can be called "nanocrystalline" nanowires (NCNW). To minimize surface polarity, nearly one-dimensional formula units, oriented along the growth axis, generate NCNWs by translation and rotation.

Self-purification in semiconductor nanocrystals

Doping of nanocrystals is an important and very difficult task. "Self-purification" mechanisms are often claimed to make this task even more difficult, as the distance a defect or impurity must move to reach the surface of a nanocrystal is very small. We show that self-purification can be explained through energetic arguments and is an intrinsic property of defects in semiconductor nanocrystals. We find the formation energies of defects increases as the size of the nanocrystal decreases. We analyze the case of Mn-doped CdSe nanocrystals and compare our results to experimental findings.