THz Characterization of Size and Shape Selected InN Nanoparticles and Their Alloys

The main objective of this project is to integrate technological advances emerging from two major scientific fields, synthesis of nanomaterials and THz characterization to correlate material properties with single photon emission. The focus of this project is to design, and synthesize nanomaterials based on group-III nitrides and oxynitrides and study their material properties using THz radiation for single photon emission. Using THz scanning near field optical microscopy (SNOM) available at the Photon Science Institute (PSI), University of Manchester, UK, we propose to simultaneously map the topography and local dielectric function with <30nm spatial resolution, generating 2D images of individual InN nanoparticles as well as their clustered assemblies. This will provide unique insight into their make-up at the nanoscale and uncover any nanoscale inhomogeneities (e.g., due to defects) in optoelectronic properties of the nanoparticles. Further, electron mobility, carrier concentration, and scattering rates will be extracted for nanoparticle ensembles using far-field THz time-domain spectroscopy. Similar THz measurements conducted in the near-field in conjunction with nano-tomography on core-shell nanoparticles will yield information about shell thickness and its effects on the optoelectronic properties at nanoscale lengths.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nazir Kherani

Student:

Partner:

University of Manchester

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: