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Project

Degradation mechanisms in quantum dots based optoelectronic devices

QDs’ (Quantum Dots) optical properties are governed by their surface. Being of sizes of up to several hundreds of nanometers, the surface-to-volume ratio of these nanocrystals is very high. This means a large portion of the atoms constituting the QD is actually found on their surface. Since these atoms exist on the edge of the nanocrystal, they cannot be fully coordinated by their neighboring atoms and, therefore are very reactive to their surroundings. When put into optoelectronic devices, QDs experience relatively high levels of heat, humidity, and light flux, and are exposed to external elements from the atmosphere or the surrounding matrix, such as oxygen, water, free radicals, and free charges, passing through the QD layers. All these factors affect the chemical surrounding of the QD surface, and by doing so degrade its performance. While a precise mechanism has yet to be universally accepted, it is clear that understanding the degradation mechanisms of the QD layer in optoelectronic devices is crucial in finding ways to improve the performance of this devices, in order toke them commercially useful. The purpose of this PhD is to understand root cause(s) for QD degradation mechanisms in an operatthesel SWIR Thin Film Photodetectors, to analytically assess the effect of these mechanisms and to come up with methods of preventing them.

Date:30 Jul 2021 →  28 Feb 2023
Keywords:Quantum Dots (QDs)
Disciplines:Semiconductor devices, nanoelectronics and technology
Project type:PhD project