DOE OSTI · 3377925
2D Semiconductor Nanosheets Supported on Colloidal Quantum Cubes
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) colloidal nanocrystals bridge the physics of epitaxial quantum wells with the synthetic scalability of solution-processed nanomaterials, making them an attractive platform for future LEDs, lasers, and photodetectors. However, their strongly anisotropic 2D morphology complicates the formation of close-packed films required for electrically interfaced devices. Here, we address this limitation by introducing semiconductor quantum cubes (QCs) in which 2D CdSe nanosheets are conformally grown on six faces of CdS cubic scaffolds. This architecture preserves excitonic physics of quasi-2D nanosheets while leveraging the mechanical rigidity and self-assembly of nanocubes, enabling close-packed films with improved electronic coupling and electrical conductivity. By extending CdS/CdSe QCs into a CdS/CdSe/CdS core/shell/shell structure, we realize 2D quantum wells that exhibit unusual multiexciton behavior. In particular, CdS/CdSe/CdS QCs show repulsive exciton–exciton interactions, which decouple CdSe facets into quasi-independent emitters. This leads to the suppressed Auger recombination, long multiexciton lifetimes, and broadband optical gain. The demonstrated combination of unusual multiexciton photophysics and favorable film self-assembly characteristics in QCs presents opportunities for solution-processed optoelectronic devices.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Nazar, Divesh [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Harankahage, Dulanjan [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Vitharana, Annelies [Ghent University (Belgium)], Diroll, Benjamin T. [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000334880213), Bondarchuk, Mykhailo V. [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Hicks, Christopher M. [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)] (ORCID:0009000963089739), Smith, Sean [University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0009000509240451), Porotnikov, Dmitry [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Waters, Amelia D. [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Thennakoon, Siddhartha [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Somarathne, Kosgoda [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], DesAutels, Joelle [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)], Nadinov, Issatay [King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal (Saudi Arabia)] (ORCID:0009000626366029), Acharya, Krishna P. [Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)] (ORCID:0000000173503002), Schaller, Richard D. [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000196968830), Tarnovsky, Alexander N. [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)] (ORCID:0000000179182676), Malko, Anton V. [University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000164107112), Geiregat, Pieter [Ghent University (Belgium)] (ORCID:0000000172178738), Zamkov, Mikhail [Bowling Green State University, OH (United States)] (ORCID:0000000286382972). 2026-06-22. 2D Semiconductor Nanosheets Supported on Colloidal Quantum Cubes. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6c03530
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.