Optical spectroscopy reveals transition of CuInS2/ZnS to CuxZn1−xInS2/ZnS:Cu alloyed quantum dots with resultant double-defect luminescence

Abstract

The structure and luminescence mechanisms of the CuInS2 quantum dots (QDs) after epitaxial growth of ZnS shell are in debate. The light absorption/emission spectroscopy reveals that after ZnS shell growth the cation diffusion at the CuInS2/ZnS interface results in formation of the alloyed CuxZn1− xInS2/ZnS:Cu QDs. These core/shell QDs exhibit dual-color photoluminescence with abnormal blue shift with decreasing excitation photon energy. The results show that the green and orange emissions originate separately from defects in the core and the shell. The absorption tail of the ZnS QDs turns from Urbach to Halperin-Lax type after Cu doping.