Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Optical Science and Engineering
Committee Chair
Seyed Sadeghi
Committee Member
Don A. Gregory
Committee Member
Lingze Duan
Committee Member
James K. Baird
Committee Member
Yongbin Lin
Subject(s)
Quantum dots., Semiconductor nanocrystals., Exciton theory., Dielectrics., Plasmons (Physics)
Abstract
Nanomaterials such as quantum dots (QDs) and metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) play an important role in physics and engineering, especially for applications such as next-generation display devices or computer processors. When used simultaneously, QDs and MNPs can couple together through a mechanism called exciton-plasmon coupling. This dipole-dipole coupling yields increased control over the optical properties of the combined system, such as enhanced emission, polarization selectively, and directionality of light. In this dissertation, a new method by which to increase the strength of exciton-plasmon coupling is presented which can boost the emission efficiency of QDs beyond the currently known plasmonic channels. This method is made possible through the plasmonic metal-oxide double junction (PMDJ), which is a structure consisting of MNPs, amorphous silicon, aluminum oxide, and the QDs. Through phenomena such as hot electron transfer and field passivation by the aluminum oxide, the PMDJ allows for QD emission to be greatly enhanced while simultaneously elongating their decay lifetime. These two effects, which are in contrary to the common understanding, allow the PMDJ to have potential application in a wide variety of applications, especially in the field of nanophotonics.
Recommended Citation
Wing, Waylin J., "Quantum dot photoluminescent dynamics and exciton-plasmon coupling in the presence of dielectrics, metal oxides, and metallic nanoparticles" (2017). Dissertations. 140.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-dissertations/140