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Quantum Dots MK 2
Quantum Dots MK 2
Image courtesy of Dr. D. Talapin, University of Hamburg
What are they?
Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals.
Whats So Special About Quantum
Dots?
First we need some background on semiconductors
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Excitons
So What?
In a bulk semiconductor the excitons are only confined to
the large volume of the semiconductor itself (much larger
than the exciton Bohr radius), so the minimum allowed
energy level of the exciton is very small and the energy
levels are close together; this helps make continuous
energy bands.
In a quantum dot, relatively few atoms are present (which
cuts down on splitting), and the excitons are confined to a
much smaller space, on the order of the materials exciton
Bohr radius.
This leads to discrete, quantized energy levels more like
those of an atom than the continuous bands of a bulk
semiconductor. For this reason quantum dots have
sometimes been referred to as artificial atoms.
Small changes to the size or composition of a quantum
dot allow the energy levels, and the bandgap, to be fine-
tuned to specific, desired energies.
How are they made?
Colloidal Synthesis: This method can be used to create
large numbers of quantum dots all at once. Additionally,
it is the cheapest method and is able to occur at
non-extreme conditions.
2005 - Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that
CdSe quantum dots emit white light when excited by UV
light. A blue LED coated in a mixture of quantum dots
and varnish functioned like a traditional light bulb.
Practical Applications:
Optical Storage
LEDs
Organic Dyes
Quantum Computing
Security
Solar Power
Optical Storage
Quantum dots have been an enabling technology
for the manufacture of blue lasers
Light Emitting Diodes
Quantum Light Emitting Diodes (QLEDs) are superior
to standard LEDs in the same ways the quantum dots
are superior to bulk semiconductors.
The tunability of QDs gives them the ability to emit nearly
any frequency of light - a traditional LED lacks this
ability.
Quantum dot-based LEDs can be crafted in a wide
range of form factors.
Quantum Computing
Pairs of quantum dots are candidates for qubit
fabrication.
The degree of precision with which one can measure
the quantum properties of the dots is very high, so a
quantum computer (which functions by checking the state
and superposition of the quantum numbers in entangled
groups) would be easily constructed.
Security
Quantum dots can be used in the fabrication of
artificial dust set up to emit at a specific frequency
of infrared light.
This dust could be used in any number of security-related
applications.
Solar Power
The adjustable bandgap of quantum dots allow the
construction of advanced solar cells.
These new cells would benefit from the adjustability
of the dots, as they would be able to utilize much more
of the suns spectrum than before.
Quantum dots have been found to emit up to three
electrons per photon of sunlight, as opposed to only
one for standard photovoltaic panels.
Theoretically, this could boost solar power efficiency
from 20-30% to as high as 65%
Conclusion
A number of additional applications exist or are being
developed that utilize quantum dots.
Quantum dots provide an example of the possibilities
that research at the nanoscale can provide.
The future is bright for this new and innovative
technology.
References:
R. D. Schaller and V. I. Klimove,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 186601 (2004)
Michael J. Bowers II, James R. McBride, and Sandra J. Rosenthal
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2005; 127(44) pp 15378 - 15379
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