Quantum dots are becoming more recognized as a tool to use in varying photonic and sensing technologies. When quantum dots are illuminated, they can emit light; by altering the quantum dot characteristics, the wavelength of the emitted light can be finely tuned. The emitted light of quantum dots may gradually increase in intensity when continuously illuminated, a behavior of quantum dots called photobrightening. We focus on this brightening behavior and explore different factors that contribute to quantum dot photobrightening. Increased excitation of the quantum dots results in increased rate of photobrightening, shown in this work by exciting quantum dot samples with different laser intensities. By adding plasmonic nanostructures, the excitation light to the quantum dots is enhanced, which also increases the rate of photobrightening. By combining gold nanoparticles with cadmium selenide quantum dots, we determined that gold nanoparticles enhance QD photobrightening by a significant factor, potentially leading to more efficient quantum dot technologies.
This study explores optical characteristics in quantum dots. CdSe quantum dots samples have been prepared and an optical photoluminescence experimental setup has been created to measure the light emission from the quantum dots as a function of time and laser intensity. Initial baseline measurements and photoluminescence spectrum has been measured. This preliminary work sets up future studies of quantum dot photobrightening, which is when the emitted light from a CdSe quantum dots gradually increases with time while under constant laser illumination. Future work will investigate photobrightening as a function of laser intensity and with the presence of plasmonic nanoparticles to give insight into plasmonic enhancement and light interaction between plasmonic particles, quantum dots, and photobrightening effects. Results of this study can add value to future quantum dot technologies.
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