Energy and Charge Transfer Dynamics in Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Doping semiconductor nanocrystals with transition metal ions introduces new optical, electronic, and magnetic properties to the host semiconductor nanocrystals. The energy transfer and charge transfer between exciton and dopant ions are the key photophysical processes responsible for the unique properties of doped semiconductor nanocrystals, which are distinct from their undoped counterparts. Since the energy transfer and charge transfer processes between exciton and dopant ions compete with the usual relaxation pathways of the exciton, competition among different dynamic processes ultimately determines the photophysical properties of doped nanocrystals. In this review, we discuss the dependence of the dynamics of the energy transfer and charge transfer processes in Mn-doped II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals on the structure of the host nanocrystal, spatial distribution of the dopant ions within the nanocrystal, and charge carrier-trapping molecules near the surface of the nanocrystals.