Project description
Photonic quantum networks a step closer thanks to on demand single-photon sources
Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots, have emerged as excellent materials for applications ranging from imaging to light-emitting diode (LED) displays and lasers. Thanks to quantum confinement, quantum dots become non-classical light sources that emit photons one by one. For practical applications, single-photon sources that can be electrically excited and controlled are highly desirable. This calls for complex fabrication tools and methods for device preparation. The EU-funded NANOLED project aims to develop LEDs based on individual colloidal nanocrystals using promising material platforms. Project results are expected to shine light on a pathway for the development of quantum light sources for practical quantum information applications.
Objective
Nanomaterials are a promising technology that includes a variety of applications ranging from electronics to medicine. Within the family of nanomaterials, colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal (NCs) are among the most investigated, thanks to their desirable optoelectronic properties.
Up until now, NCs have been employed in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers of relatively large size (devices of at least few hundred microns in area), therefore exploiting the properties of the ensemble (i.e. a NC film). LEDs based on ensemble of NCs show good performance in terms of efficiency and luminance but their applicability is still limited to standard consumer electronics products such as displays and illumination. Interestingly, thanks to quantum confinement a single isolated NC displays single photon emission, a desirable property for application in quantum technologies. Such property has been studied in detail using optical excitation. Yet, the challenge is to exploit single photon emission from a NC under electrical excitation but this requires the development of complex fabrication tools and methods for device preparation.
NANOLED aims at developing light-emitting diodes based on individual colloidal NCs, thus paving the way to novel electrically driven single-photon sources with small footprint that are embeddable in photonic quantum networks. Further development of quantum technologies requires the investigation of devices based on novel materials for single photon generation.
The project identifies 3 objectives to reach the final goal of fabricating a light-emitting diode based on a single nanocrystal: i) Identification and synthesis of semiconductor NCs with the necessary properties. ii) Development of methods for precise spatial positioning of a single semiconductor NC within electrodes able to inject a current into it; iii) Study of the electroluminescence of a single NC and investigation of its applicability toward single-photon and classical light sources.
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ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
16163 Genova
Italy