Optical interference effect in the hybrid quantum dots/two-dimensional materials: photoluminescence enhancement and modulation

Abstract

The optical interference effect originating from the multiple reflections between the two-dimensional (2D) materials and the substrates has been used to dramatically enhance their Raman signal. However, this effect in the hybrid structures of colloidal quantum dots (QD) coupled to 2D materials is always overlooked. Here we theoretically prove that the photoluminescence (PL) intensities of the QD films in the QD-2D hybrid structures can be strongly enhanced and modulated by the optical interference effect between QD and 2D interfaces, breaking the inherent standpoint that PL intensities of the QD films are always prominently quenched in these hybrid structures. The theoretical predictions have been well confirmed by experimental measurements of PL properties of CdSe/ZnS and CdSeTe/ZnS QD on different 2D materials (such as WSe2, MoS2, and h-BN). PL intensities of these QD films have been periodically modulated from almost disappearing to strong enhancement (with the enhancement of about 6 times). The optical interference effect uncovered in this work enables a powerful method to manipulate the PL property of the QD films in the different QD-2D hybrid structures. These results can boost the optical performance of the QD-based electronic and optoelectronic devices in the hybrid QD-2D structures.