Analytical formulas for the ON- and OFF-time distributions as well as for the autocorrelation function were derived for the case of single molecule translocation through nanopore arrays. The obtained time-dependent expressions describe very well experimentally recorded statistics of DNA translocations through an array of solid state nanopores, which allows us to extract molecule and system related physical parameters from the experimental traces. The necessity of non-stationary analysis as opposite to the steady-state approximation has been vindicated for the molecule capture process, where different time-dependent regimes were identified. A long tail in the distribution of translocation times has been rationalized invoking Markov jumps, where a possible sequential ordering of events was elucidated through autocorrelation function analysis. Published under license by AIP Publishing.

Photostability has been a major issue for perovskite materials. Understanding the photodegradation mechanism and suppressing it are of central importance for applications. By investigating single-dot photoluminescence spectra and the lifetime of MAPbX(3) (MA = CH3NH3+, X = Br, I) nanocrystals with quantum confinement under different conditions, we identified two separate pathways in the photodegradation process. The first is the oxygen-assisted light-induced etching process (photochemistry). The second is the light-driven slow charge-trapping process (photophysics), taking place even in oxygen-free environment. We clarified the role of oxygen in the photodegradation process and show how the photoinduced etching can be successfully suppressed by OSTE polymer, preventing an oxygen-assisted reaction.

We demonstrate all-optical intensity modulation in integrated PMMA optical waveguides doped with silicon quantum dots. The 1550 nm probe signal is absorbed by free carriers excited in silicon quantum dots with 405 nm pump light.

Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) are formed by implanting 70 keV Si+ into a SiO2-film and subsequent thermal annealing. SiNP samples are further annealed in forming gas. Another group of samples containing SiNP is implanted by 7.5 keV H+ and subsequently annealed in N2-atmosphere at 450 °C to reduce implantation damage. Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) is employed to establish depth profiles of the H-concentration. Enhanced hydrogen concentrations are found close to the SiO2surface, with particularly high concentrations for the as-implanted SiO2. However, no detectable uptake of hydrogen is observed by NRA for samples treated by forming gas annealing (FGA). H-concentrations detected after H-implantation follow calculated implantation profiles. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is performed at room temperature to observe the SiNP PL. Whereas FGA is found to increase PL under certain conditions, i.e., annealing at high temperatures, increasing implantation fluence of H reduces the SiNP PL. Hydrogen implantation also introduces additional defect PL. After low-temperature annealing, the SiNP PL is found to improve, but the process is not found equivalently efficient as conventional FGA.

Transparent wood (TW) is a biocomposite material with hierarchical structure, which exhibits high optical transmittance and anisotropic light scattering. Here, the relation between anisotropic scattering and the internal structure of transparent wood is experimentally studied and the dependence of scattering anisotropy on material thickness, which characterizes the fraction of ballistic photons in the propagating light, is shown. The limitations of the conven-tional haze, as it is implemented to isotropic materials, are discussed, and a modified characteristic parameter of light scattering—the degree of aniso-tropic scattering is defined. This parameter together with the transport mean free path value is more practical and convenient for characterization of the material scattering properties. It is believed that the generic routine described in this paper can be applied for scattering characterization and comparison of other TW materials of either different thickness, optical quality or based on various wood species.

Oxygen with a kinetic energy of 20 keV is implanted in a silicon wafer (100) at different fluences, followed by post-implantation thermal annealing (PIA) performed at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1200 degrees C, in order to form luminescent silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) and also to reduce the damage induced by the implantation. As a result of this procedure, a surface SiOx layer (with 0 < x < 2) with embedded crystalline Si nanoparticles has been created. The samples yield similar luminescence in terms of peak wavelength, lifetime, and absorption as recorded from SiNPs obtained by the more conventional method of implanting silicon into silicon dioxide. The oxygen implantation profile is characterized by elastic recoil detection (ERD) technique to obtain the excess concentration of Si in a presumed SiO2 environment. The physical structure of the implanted Si wafer is examined by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). Photoluminescence (PL) techniques, including PL spectroscopy, time-resolved PL (TRPL), and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy are carried out in order to identify the PL origin. The results show that luminescent SiNPs are formed in a Si sample implanted by oxygen with a fluence of 2 x 10(17) atoms cm(-2) and PIA at 1000 degrees C. These SiNPs have a broad size range of 6-24 nm, as evaluated from the GIXRD result. Samples implanted at a lower fluence and/or annealed at higher temperature show only weak defect-related PL. With further optimization of the SiNP luminescence, the method may offer a simple route for integration of luminescent Si in mainstream semiconductor fabrication.

Transparent wood is an emerging load-bearing material reinvented from natural wood scaffolds with added light management functionalities. Such material shows promising properties for buildings and related structural applications, including its renewable and abundant origin, interesting optical properties, outstanding mechanical performance, low density, low thermal conductivity, and great potential for multifunctionalization. In this study, a detailed summary of recent progress on the transparent wood research topic is presented. Remaining questions and challenges related to transparent wood preparation, optical property measurements, and transparent wood modification and applications are discussed.

Polymer materials offer process compatibility, design flexibility, and low cost technology as a multi-functional platform for optical communication and photonics applications. Design and thermal reflowing technology of low loss polymer waveguides, as well as demonstration of transparent wood laser are presented in this paper.

We demonstrate that nonradiative recombination in semiconductor nanocrystals can be described by a rapid luminescence intermittency, based on carrier tunneling to resonant traps. Such process, we call it "rapid trapping (blinking)", leads to delayed luminescence and promotes Auger recombination, thus lowering the quantum efficiency. To prove our model, we probed oxide- (containing static traps) and ligand- (trap-free) passivated silicon nanocrystals emitting at similar energies and featuring monoexponential blinking statistics. This allowed us to find analytical formulas and to extract characteristic trapping/detrapping rates, and quantum efficiency as a function of temperature and excitation power. Experimental single-dot temperature-dependent decays, supporting the presence of one or few resonant static traps, and ensemble saturation curves were found to be very well described by this effect. The model can be generalized to other semiconductor nanocrystals, although the exact interplay of trapping/detrapping, radiative, and Auger processes may be different, considering the typical times of the processes involved.