Quantum Nanodots Engineering , from self assembly to nanocrystals
Yossi Paltiel
Solid State Physics Group, Soreq NRC, Yavne, Israel
Nano technology is in the center of attention in the last decade. Nano structures are structures of the size of about 10-100 times molecular (atomic size). They have the advantage that they can be addressed optically with much larger cross-section than molecules or atoms, they can be manipulated mechanically much easier than single atom or molecule, while it is still possible, in principle, to address single quantum states at high temperature.
Because of their size, the coupling of nanostructure to the environment is larger than that of single molecules or atoms. The environment may interfere with the simple isolated quantum states which one would like to preserve in order to use the quantum properties of nano devices at room temperature.
Inour work we aim to understand the relations between the environment and the nano system and create a controlled system for room temperature quantum device operation. Our "nano-toolbox" includes semiconductor narrow band nanocrystals, metal nano-particles and organic molecules that link the nanocrystals to a substrate.
It is expected that this methodology will yield a generic nanoengineering toolbox that will enable using quantum mechanics at room temperature, and will bring about new type of devices such as single photon detectors and emitters, light emitting diodes, IR sensors, solar cells, and photo-electrical devices. Moreover, this methodology is aimed at producing a generic technology for constructing nano-systems in which many devices are interconnected, operate in unison, and are coupled to their macroscopic environment without inhibiting their quantum nature.
In my talk I will present some of our results on self assembled quantum dots1. Discuss some of the problems with this system2 and show our new nano tool box3 and. hybrid devices 4.
1 S. Shusterman, Y. Paltiel, A. Sher and Y. Rosenwaks
High-density nanometer-scale InSb dots formation using MOVPE dropletsheteroepitaxial growth; Journal of Crystal growth 291, 363-369 (2006).
2 S. Shusterman, A. Raizman, A. Sher Y. Paltiel, A. Schwarzman, E. Lepkifker and Y. Rosenwaks
Nanoscale Mapping of Strain and Composition in Quantum Dots Using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, Nano Lett.; 7(7); 2089-2093 (2007).
3Y. Paltiel, O. Neumann, R. Naaman , A. Aharoni,and U. Banin
Self-assembling of InAs nanocrystals on GaAs- The effect of electronic coupling and embedded gold nanoparticles on the photoluminescence; Appl. Phys. Lett. 89 1 (2006).
4 T. Aqua, R. Naaman,A. Aharoni, U. Banin, and Y. Paltiel
Hybrid nanocrystals-organic-semiconductor light sensor. Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 223112 (2008).
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