Spectroscopic and magneto-optical signatures of cu1+ and cu2+ defects in copper indium sulfide quantum dots

Addis Fuhr, Hyeong Jin Yun, Scott A. Crooker, Victor I. Klimov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) of I-III-VI ternary compounds such as copper indium sulfide (CIS) and copper indium selenide (CISe) have been under intense investigation due to both their unusual photophysical properties and considerable technological utility. These materials feature a toxic-element-free composition, a tunable bandgap that covers near-infrared and visible spectral energies, and a highly efficient photoluminescence (PL) whose spectrum is located in the reabsorption-free intragap region. These properties make them attractive for light-emission and light-harvesting applications including photovoltaics and luminescent solar concentrators. Despite a large body of literature on device-related studies of CISe(S) QDs, the understanding of their fundamental photophysical properties is surprisingly poor. Two particular subjects that are still heavily debated in the literature include the mechanism(s) for strong intragap emission and the reason(s) for a poorly defined (featureless) absorption edge, which often "tails" below the nominal bandgap. Here, we address these questions by conducting comprehensive spectroscopic studies of CIS QD samples with varied Cu-to-In ratios using resonant PL and PL excitation, femtosecond transient absorption, and magnetic circular dichroism measurements. These studies reveal a strong effect of stoichiometry on the concentration of Cu1+ vs Cu2+ defects (occurring as CuIn and CuCu species, respectively), and their effects on QD optical properties. In particular, we demonstrate that the increase in the relative amount of Cu2+ vs Cu1+ centers suppresses intragap absorption associated with Cu1+ states and sharpens band-edge absorption. In addition, we show that both Cu1+ and Cu2+ centers are emissive but are characterized by distinct activation mechanisms and slightly different emission energies due to different crystal lattice environments. An important overall conclusion of this study is that the relative importance of the Cu2+ vs Cu1+ emission/absorption channels can be controlled by tuning the Cu-to-In ratio, suggesting that the control of sample stoichiometry represents a powerful tool for achieving functionalities (e.g., strong intragap emission) that are not accessible with ideal, defect-free materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2212-2223
Number of pages12
JournalACS Nano
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 25 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The studies of quantum dot photophysical and magneto-optical properties were supported by the Solar Photochemistry Program of the Chemical Sciences, Biosciences and Geosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy. The research into the synthesis of the quantum dots was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) under project number 20190232ER. Measurements at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory were supported by the National Science Foundation DMR-1644779, the State of Florida, and the U.S. Department of Energy. A.F. was supported by the LANL African American Partnership Program.

Keywords

  • Copper indium sulfide
  • Copper vacancy
  • Cu
  • Cu
  • Native defects
  • Quantum dot

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