Surface Modification Engineered Assembly of Novel Quantum Dot Architectures for Advanced Applications

This DURINT program proposed and undertook several ground-breaking efforts aimed at exploring novel and innovative composite nanostructures created from the integration of the two classes of nanostuctures - the epitaxial nanostructures (e.g. quantum wells) and the nanocrystal quantum structures (e.g. quantum dots). This Final Technical Report summarizes the objectives pursued and major accomplishments. The highlights include the following firsts: (1) demonstration of nonradiative resonant excitation transfer from adsorbed NCQDs to adjacent buried nanostructure, thus opening a new paradigm for potentially high efficiency solar cells; (2) demonstration of epitaxial overgrowth on adsorbed nanocrystals; (3) demonstration of CdTe tetrapod single electron transistors; (4) molecular dynamics simulations of organic PEG-conjugated SAMs on Au and GaAs; (5) demonstration of metallic nanoparticles based plasmon ruler; (6) atomic-scale characterization of adsorbed peptide-conjugated SAMs and their role in specific adhesion of cells; (7) simultaneous nanoscale spatially-resolved measurement of morphology and luminescence from living cells; (8) synthesis and photoresponse measurement of semiconductor (CdSe)-metal (Au) epitaxial composite nanocrystal Schottky junction.