Hyperfine Coupling in Colloidal n-Type ZnO Quantum Dots: Effects on Electron Spin Relaxation

Abstract

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are excellent systems for exploring the fundamental properties of quantum-confined charge carriers. Tremendous progress has already been made in understanding the properties of electron-hole pairs (excitons) confined in colloidal quantum dots (QDs) using optical spectroscopic techniques.1-6 In contrast with charge carriers in QD electronic excited states, the properties of QDs containing excess carriers in their ground states have received substantially less attention.7-19 To date, the primary experimental probe of such charged QDs has been electronic absorption spectroscopy, in which low-energy intraband excitations can be used to define the carrier wave function.