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Non-blinking quantum dot with a plasmonic nanoshell resonator

Nature Nanotechnology volume 10, pages 170–175 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots are fluorescent nanocrystals exhibiting exceptional optical properties, but their emission intensity strongly depends on their charging state and local environment. This leads to blinking at the single-particle level or even complete fluorescence quenching, and limits the applications of quantum dots as fluorescent particles. Here, we show that a single quantum dot encapsulated in a silica shell coated with a continuous gold nanoshell provides a system with a stable and Poissonian emission at room temperature that is preserved regardless of drastic changes in the local environment. This novel hybrid quantum dot/silica/gold structure behaves as a plasmonic resonator with a strong Purcell factor, in very good agreement with simulations. The gold nanoshell also acts as a shield that protects the quantum dot fluorescence and enhances its resistance to high-power photoexcitation or high-energy electron beams. This plasmonic fluorescent resonator opens the way to a new family of plasmonic nanoemitters with robust optical properties.

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Figure 1: Principle of quantum dot/SiO2/Au hybrid (golden QD) synthesis.
Figure 2: Numerical simulations of the optical properties of golden QDs.
Figure 3: Single-particle spectroscopy.
Figure 4: Photostability.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) through projects QDOTICS, and the Région Ile-de-France through the C'nano project ‘NanoAnt’. This work has also been supported by the Région Ile-de-France through the DIM Nano-K.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, Paris, 75005, France

    Botao Ji, Emerson Giovanelli, Piernicola Spinicelli, Michel Nasilowski, Xiangzhen Xu, Nicolas Lequeux & Benoit Dubertret

  2. Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS UMR 8501, Université Paris-Sud, 2 avenue Augustin Fresnel, Palaiseau Cedex, 91127, France

    Benjamin Habert, Jean-Paul Hugonin, Francois Marquier & Jean-Jacques Greffet

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  1. Botao Ji
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  2. Emerson Giovanelli
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  4. Piernicola Spinicelli
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Contributions

J.J.G. and F.M. suggested the use of a gold nanoshell and supervised the theoretical analysis conducted by B.H. B.J. performed the synthesis of the golden quantum dots. E.G., N.L. and B.D. co-supervised B.J. P.S. carried out the spectroscopic experiments. X.Z. obtained the TEM images. E.G., B.D. and B.H. wrote the manuscript with help from the other authors. M.N. synthesized the thick-shell quantum dots. J.P.H. developed the numerical codes for the electromagnetic simulations.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jean-Jacques Greffet or Benoit Dubertret.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Ji, B., Giovanelli, E., Habert, B. et al. Non-blinking quantum dot with a plasmonic nanoshell resonator. Nature Nanotech 10, 170–175 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.298

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