Colloidal quantum dots : opportunities and challenges

Orateur : Peter REISS (INAC/SPrAM)

Around 30 years ago Ekimov and Efros discovered what is today known as quantum confinement effect : the strong dependency of the optical and electronic properties of semiconductors when reducing their size to the nanoscale. Around ten years later, Murray, Norris and Bawendi developed a chemical synthesis method for the preparation of quasi monodisperse CdSe, CdS and CdTe nanocrystals. Since then a lot of research has been devoted to the understanding of the photophysical properties of quantum dots. In parallel their applications in different fields has been proposed. Their efficient, size-tunable photoluminescence is exploited when using them in light-emitting diodes, giving ultimately access to lighting with better color rendering properties and displays showing more vivid colors. Their high photostability combined with the possibility of surface functionalization to introduce additional functionalities (e.g. tumor targeting, cell penetration, multiple detection) make quantum dots very attractive fluorescent probes for biological imaging or sensing. Finally, their strong light absorption and solution processibility open the way for their integration in thin film or nanostructured solar cells. In this seminar, I will give a short introduction to the different fields mentioned above and illustrate them with examples coming from research efforts of our team.

Télécharger dans mon agenda