Luminescent studies of alloy Zn_xCd_(1-x)Se quantum dots grown on ZnSe by metalorganic chemical vapor-phase deposition

摘要

Zn_xCd_(1-x)Se alloy quantum dots (QDs) with x in the range 0-0.39 are grown by metalorganic chemical vapor-phase deposition on ZnSe. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) were used to study these self-assembled quantum dots. CL imaging and spectra show that clusters of QDs are efficient luminescent sites. A large red shift of the low-temperature PL peak energy of QDs, despite an increase in Zn, is attributed to a considerable increase in their size. This increase in size is consistent with the results of recent theoretical models. In forming the self assembled QDs, mismatch strain is regarded as the fundamental driving force. When the strain changes, through a change in the composition of Zn_xCd_(1-x)Se, QDs of a different size are obtained. A decrease in size, in turn, results in stronger quantum confinement effects. The size of the QDs is very sensitive to small changes of strain. Even a minute reduction in the zinc content of the QDs, achieved through a lengthening of growth interruptions, produces an observable blue shift of luminescence, as a result of the strengthening of the quantum confinement energy.