About the project
Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals are a promising platform for classical and quantum light emitters. They have great potential for single-photon emitters, which are key building blocks for quantum communication networks. This project combines synthesis, optical characterisation, and NMR studies of metal halide perovskite quantum dots and their optimisation for quantum emitters.
Metal halide perovskite quantum dots are a promising platform for classical and quantum emitters. They have great potential for single-photon emitters, which are key building blocks for quantum communication networks. Perovskite quantum dots can be fabricated as colloidal suspensions of nanocrystals that offer high radiative efficiency, defect tolerance, high purity at room temperature, and low-cost fabrication. Furthermore, mixed-halide compositions allow us to tune the emission wavelengths to match specific transitions of quantum memories and other components.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can probe the immediate chemical environment of nuclei to disentangle the bulk and surface composition, identify defects, and reveal short-range chemical heterogeneities in mixed-halide alloys that may not be detected by optical methods. Although such short-range heterogeneities have a minor impact on the bandgap and emission wavelength, they affect the material stability and exciton properties that dictate the mechanism of light emission.
This project will include the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals, optical characterisation, and NMR studies. It will also include the development of a custom setup for in-situ NMR under resonant illumination of the samples, to further reveal the impact of electron-phonon coupling. The setup will also allow for the study of illumination-induced structural transformations associated with ionic migration, providing key insights into the peculiar photophysics of these exciting materials.
In addition to fundamental studies, the project aims to optimise the composition, processing methods, capping ligands, and solid-state matrix of the quantum dots, aiming to develop tunable single-photon emitters with improved efficiency and long-term stability.
