Toward active nanophotonic using colloidal quantum dots

ongoing

AQDtive project targets the design of an all nanocrystal (NC) based active imaging setup. This includes the design of a focal plane array (FPA) (ie. a camera) which active layer is made of narrow band gap NCs and which light matter coupling will be designed to enhance the light absorption. Other new functionalities such as a bias reconfigurable spectral response are also targeted to transform NC as viable platform of active nonanophotonics. A second key development of AQDtive is the design of NC-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) with operation from 2 to 5 µm. This spectral range corresponds to a spectral window where electroluminescence of NCs is currently not reported and where bright sources remain technologically challenging. A bright LED will then be coupled to a FPA to obtain an all NC-based active imaging setup. Last, to support the development of such device, AQDtive includes a deep investigation of the electronic structure in operando. A unique setup will be fabricated that enable pump-probe photoemission measurements while the device is pumped under resonant (ie. with band edge energy) condition and while device is under operation (ie. under bias application). Moreover, using nanobeam photoemission, I target to obtain a direct imaging of the device energy landscape in operando. Together these objectives will enable a new generation of infrared sensors operated in the extended short and mid wave infrared, that will be collaboratively transferred to industrial partners.