Tiny Crystals, Big Impact: Vacancy Order Boosts Light Emission
We just solved the mystery of I-III-VI quantum dots! Turns out, copper atoms and cationic vacancies pair up to efficiently emit light. Plus, a hidden order of vacancies boosts photoluminescence even further.
In a recent study of ultrasmall Cu-Zn-In-Se quantum dots, we have demonstrated that even nanocrystals made of just hundreds of atoms can exhibit complex internal ordering akin to bulk materials. By fine-tuning composition and promoting vacancy-cation patterns, we have achieved improved luminescence due to reduced electronic disorder. The research highlights how structural control at the atomic level can enhance material’s performance. These insights pave the way for more stable and efficient quantum dots in applications from light emitters to photocatalysis.
The full paper can be accessed here.