Plasmon-exciton nanostructures based on 2D semiconductor nanocrystals for near-infrared photonics

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In this project we will develop novel hybrid plasmonic‒excitonic nanostructures active in the near-infrared (NIR) region. As a material platform for the fabrication of these composite structures we choose copper chalcogenide (Cu2‒xA, where x = 0–1 and A = S, Se or Te) two dimensional (2D) nanocrystals. Our selection relies on polymorphism of Cu2‒xA which exhibits a range of different stoichiometries adapting various crystal phases and a feasibility of chemical transformations of these nanocrystals via cation exchange.The project will combine the following two main parts: 1) development of a direct colloidal synthesis of semiconductor Cu2‒xA 2D nanomaterials with well controlled dimensions and crystal structure and their chemical transformations via cation exchange reactions into semiconductor 2D metal chalcogenides, such as CdA, PbA, HgA, and Ag2A, including their hetero-structures; 2) fabrication of composite fluorescent‒plasmonic materials in the form of planar layered assemblies and investigation of interactions between the layers using advanced optical spectroscopy techniques. Degrees of compositional and structural manipulation of the 2D materials targeted in this project will go far beyond the existing state-of-the-art methods for their direct wet chemical synthesis as well as chemical vapor deposition or exfoliation. Control of their structure and composition is a key to the precise engineering of their optoelectronic properties. From practical point of view, the combination of semiconductor nanocrystals with high absorption coefficients and high photoluminescence quantum yields and nanoparticles with a strong plasmon resonance is promising for the improvement of the efficiency of optoelectronic devices. Such a concept is of great importance for the NIR region, where a high efficiency is difficult to achieve. The lack of synthetic protocols for the synthesis of NIR-active copper, lead, mercury, and silver chalcogenide 2D nanomaterials on one hand, and practically not investigated yet interactions between plasmonic and excitonic structures in the NIR region on the other, motivate us to pursue these goals. The work plan of the project is assigned to a doctoral researcher supported by two student assistants.This work is expected to have impact not only on the fundamentals of chemistry of colloidal 2D semiconductor nanomaterials and their synthetic methodology, but also to provide a range of various materials with a well-defined application potential. The resulting materials and structures with tunable photophysical properties will be very promising candidates for applications in solar cells, luminescent solar concentrators, LEDs, and photodetectors.