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Vibronic Excitons and Conical Intersections in Semiconductor Quantum Dots

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Surface defects and organic surface-capping ligands affect the photoluminescence properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) by altering the rates of competing nonradiative relaxation processes. In this study, broadband two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy reveals that absorption of light by QDs prepares vibronic excitons, excited states derived from quantum coherent mixing of the core electronic and ligand vibrational states. Rapidly damped coherent wavepacket motions of the ligands are observed during hot-carrier cooling, with vibronic coherence transferred to the photoluminescent state. These findings suggest a many-electron, molecular theory for the electronic structure of QDs, which is supported by calculations of the structures of conical intersections between the exciton potential surfaces of a small ammonia-passivated model CdSe nanoparticle.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0021197; SC0010847
OSTI ID:
1864694
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Journal Issue: 39 Vol. 12; ISSN 1948-7185
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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