Electronic structure and self-assembly of cross-linked semiconductor nanocrystal arrays

Nanotechnology. 2008 Feb 13;19(6):065201. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/19/6/065201. Epub 2008 Jan 23.

Abstract

We studied the electronic level structure of assemblies of InAs quantum dots and CdSe nanorods cross-linked by 1,4-phenylenediamine molecules using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. We found that the bandgap in these arrays is reduced with respect to the corresponding ligand-capped nanocrystal arrays. In addition, a pronounced sub-gap spectral structure commonly appeared which can be attributed to unpassivated nanocrystal surface states or associated with linker-molecule-related levels. The exchange of the ligands by the linker molecules also affected the structural array properties. Most significantly, clusters of close-packed standing CdSe nanorods were formed.