The physics and chemistry of semiconductor nanocrystals in sol-gel derived optical microcavities

The incorporation of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) into sol-gel derived matrices presents both novel applications as well as a robust platform in which to investigate the nonlinear optical properties of NCs. This thesis summarizes our present understanding of the chemistry of the incorporation process and the applications and underlying optical physics that was gleaned from studying these NC-doped sol-gel structures. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of NC-doped core-shell silica microsphere composites of tunable size and emission wavelength, as well as their subsequent use for in-vivo imaging of blood vessels. This chapter illustrates how an appreciation of the kinetics of the Stober process allowed for the achievement of highly monodisperse microsphere composites with a uniform incorporation of NCs. Chapter 3 reviews the requirements for achieving stimulated emission in CdSe NCs and details the development of NC-based lasers through sol-gel derived microcavities, from distributed feedback (DFB) grating structures to spherical microresonators exhibiting whispering-gallery mode lasing. Chapter 4 compares and explicates the differences between silica and titania as host matrices for NCs in terms of their chemical stability in the presence of solvents.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemistry.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Chan, Yinthai

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Moungi G. Bawendi.

• Chemistry.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36253

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36253