High-pressure water vapor annealing (HWA) was recently demonstrated as a method that can substantially improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) with the oxide shell. In this Letter, the mechanism of this enhancement is studied optically on a single-dot level. HWA treatment is performed on Si QDs formed on a silicon-on-insulator wafer, and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were examined before and after the treatment. Our experiments show a 2.5 time enhancement in the average blinking duty cycle of Si QDs after 2.6 MPa HWA treatment without changing the average ON-state PL intensity. This observation proves the carrier trapping process is suppressed on the HWA-built Si/SiO2 interface. We also discussed the mechanism behind the PLQY enhancement of HWA-treated Si QDs by comparing single-dot-level data to reported ensemble PL Si QDs results. HWA treatment is found to mainly brighten "grey" (not 100% efficient) QDs, a mechanism different from changing dark (non-emitting) to bright (100% efficient) Si QDs by ligand passivation.

Metal assisted chemical etching is a promising method for fabricating high aspect ratio micro- and nanostructures in silicon. Previous results have suggested that P-type and N-type silicon etches with different degrees of anisotropy, questioning the use of P-type silicon for nanostructures. In this study, we compare processing X-ray zone plate nanostructures in N and P-type silicon through metal assisted chemical etching with a gold catalyst. Fabricated zone plates were cleaved and studied with a focus on resulting verticality, depth and porosity. Results show that for high aspect ratio nanostructures, both N and P-type silicon prove to be viable alternatives exhibiting different etch rates, but similarities regarding porosity and etch direction.

This Letter introduces an analytical approach to estimate the waveguiding efficiency of large-area luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), where the edges are covered by a var-ied number of mirrors and solar cells. The model provides physically relevant description in the whole range of optical (absorption, scattering) and geometrical (size) parameters of rectangular LSCs. A 19 x 19 cm2 silicon quantum dot -based LSC has been fabricated to verify the theory. Within an experimental error, the predicted waveguiding efficiency matched well the measured one. A critical LSC size, beyond which a part of the device turns inactive, has been deter-mined as N/& alpha; for N attached solar cells (one or two) and LSC material absorption coefficient & alpha;. This model provides a straightforward waveguiding analysis tool for large-area LSCs with different structural parameters relevant for both high concentration ratio and glazing applications.

Fluorescence-based optical sensing techniques have continually been explored for single-molecule detection targeting myriad biomedical applications. Improving signal-to-noise ratio remains a prioritized effort to enable unambiguous detection at single-molecule level. Here, we report a systematic simulation-assisted optimization of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence of single quantum dots based on nanohole arrays in ultrathin aluminum films. The simulation is first calibrated by referring to the measured transmittance in nanohole arrays and subsequently used for guiding their design. With an optimized combination of nanohole diameter and depth, the variation of the square of simulated average volumetric electric field enhancement agrees excellently with that of experimental photoluminescence enhancement over a large range of nanohole periods. A maximum 5-fold photoluminescence enhancement is statistically achieved experimentally for the single quantum dots immobilized at the bottom of simulation-optimized nanoholes in comparison to those cast-deposited on bare glass substrate. Hence, boosting photoluminescence with optimized nanohole arrays holds promises for single-fluorophore-based biosensing.

The preparation of wood substrates modified by charged inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) diffusing into the internal cell wall structure is investigated for generating functional properties. The flammability problem of wood biocomposites is addressed. NPs applied from colloidal sols carry charge to stabilize them against aggregation. The influence of charge on particle diffusion and adsorption should play a role for their spatial distribution and localization in the wood substrate biocomposite. It is hypothesized that improved dispersion, infiltration, and stability of NPs into the wood structure can be achieved by charge control diffusion, also restricting NP agglomeration and limiting distribution to the wood cell wall. Cationic and anionic silica NPs of ≈30 nm are therefore allowed to diffuse into bleached wood. The influence of charge on distribution in wood is investigated as a function of initial sol concentration. Transparent wood is fabricated by in situ polymerization of a thiol­ene in the wood pore space. These biocomposites demonstrate excellent flame retardancy with self­extinguishing characteristics. The approach has potential for commercial fabrication of flame retardant transparent composites for glazing and other building applications.

Fluorescent probes are vital to cell imaging by allowing specific parts of cells to be visualized and quantified. Color-switchable probes (CSPs), with tunable emission wavelength upon contact with specific targets, are particularly powerful because they not only eliminate the need to wash away all unbound probe but also allow for internal controls of probe concentrations, thereby facilitating quantification. Several such CSPs exist and have proven very useful, but not for all key cellular targets. Here we report a pioneering CSP for in situ cell imaging using aldehyde-functionalized silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) that switch their intrinsic photoluminescence from red to blue quickly when interacting with amino acids in live cells. Though conventional probes often work better in cell-free extracts than in live cells, the SiNCs display the opposite behavior and function well and fast in universal cell lines at 37 °C while requiring much higher temperature in extracts. Furthermore, the SiNCs only disperse in cytoplasm not nucleus, and their fluorescence intensity correlated linearly with the concentration of fed amino acids. We believe these nanosilicon probes will be promising tools to visualize distribution of amino acids and potentially quantify amino acid related processes in live cells. 

A concept of transparent “quantum dot glass”(TQDG) is proposed for a combination of a quantum dot(QD)-based glass luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) and itsedge-attached solar cells, as a type of transparent photovoltaics(TPVs) for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). Differentfrom conventional LSCs, which typically serve as pure opticaldevices, TQDGs have to fulfill requirements as both powergeneratingcomponents and building construction materials. In thiswork, we demonstrate large-area (400 cm2) TQDGs based onsilicon QDs in a triplex glass configuration. An overall powerconversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.57% was obtained with back-reflection for a transparent TQDG (average visible transmittance of84% with a color rendering index of 88 and a low haze ≤3%), contributing to a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of 1.3%, which isamong the top reported TPVs based on the LSC technology with similar size. Most importantly, these TQDGs are shown to havebetter thermal and sound insulation properties compared to normal float glass, as well as improved mechanical performance andsafety, which significantly pushes the TPV technology toward practical building integration. TQDGs simultaneously exhibit favorablephotovoltaic, aesthetic, and building envelope characteristics and can serve as a multifunctional material for the realization of nearlyzero-energy building concepts.

This letter introduces a novel approach estimating the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a square luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) by point excitations on the “optical centers” as proposed here. Predicted by theoretical calculations, photoluminescence emissions from these optical centers experience almost the same average optical path with those from the whole device under uniform illumination. This is experimentally verified by a 20 × 20 cm2 silicon quantum dots-based LSC, with a negligible error between the predicted PCE and the measured one. This method provides a convenient way to estimate the photovoltaic performance of large-area LSC devices with basic laboratory instruments.

The optical response of hierarchical materials is convoluted, which hinders their direct study and property control. Transparent wood (TW) is an emerging biocomposite in this category, which adds optical function to the structural properties of wood. Nano- and microscale inhomogeneities in composition, structure and at interfaces strongly affect light transmission and haze. While interface manipulation can tailor TW properties, the realization of optically clear wood requires detailed understanding of light-TW interaction mechanisms. Here we show how material scattering and absorption coefficients can be extracted from a combination of experimental spectroscopic measurements and a photon diffusion model. Contributions from different length scales can thus be deciphered and quantified. It is shown that forward scattering dominates haze in TW, primarily caused by refractive index mismatch between the wood substrate and the polymer phase. Rayleigh scattering from the wood cell wall and absorption from residual lignin have minor effects on transmittance, but the former affects haze. Results provide guidance for material design of transparent hierarchical composites towards desired optical functionality; we demonstrate experimentally how transmittance and haze of TW can be controlled over a broad range.