This PhD project focuses on the design and fabrication of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) supracrystals—highly ordered assemblies of nanocrystals—for use as ultra-bright, temporally controlled microscopic light sources. CQDs are solution-processable semiconductor nanocrystals with size-tunable optical properties, making them ideal for applications in displays, lasers, single-photon sources, and sensing.
Building on recent advances in emulsion-templated self-assembly, the project will explore the creation of multifunctional supraparticles (SPs) by blending different types of CQDs and coupling them to plasmonic or upconverting structures. These SPs have demonstrated promising capabilities, including microlasing, multi-wavelength emission, and biomolecular functionalization.
Key Objectives:
- Synthesis and Assembly: Develop protocols for synthesizing CQDs and assembling them into hybrid supracrystals with tailored geometries and functionalities.
- Optical Characterization: Investigate fluorescence enhancement, laser oscillation, and non-classical light emission to enable efficient microscopic lasers and quantum light sources.
- Sustainable Materials: Explore non-toxic alternatives to cadmium- and lead-based CQDs to support environmentally friendly photonic technologies.
The student will join the Colloidal Photonics team at the Institute of Photonics, gaining interdisciplinary training in nanomaterials, photonics, and device integration. Depending on interests, applications in biological sensing, optical communications, or quantum photonics can be explored.