title: Increase of third-order nonlinear optical activity of PbS quantum dots in zeolite Y by increasing cation size.
abstract: The third-order nonlinear optical (3NLO) activity of PbS quantum dots (QDs) encapsulated in zeolite Y has been expected to depend sensitively on the countercation of the zeolite host. However, ion exchange of the pristine countercation, H(+), with other cations has not been possible because the framework decomposes and the QDs aggregate immediately when the PbS QD-incorporating zeolite Y with H(+) as the countercation is exposed to the atmosphere. We now report that when H(+) is transformed to NH(4)(+), the framework of PbS QD-containing zeolite Y does not undergo decomposition and the PbS QDs do not undergo aggregation to form larger QDs during the aqueous ion exchange of NH(4)(+) with alkali-metal ions (M(A)(+) = Li, Na(+), K(+), Rb(+)). The 3NLO activity of the M(A)(+)-exchanged PbS QD-incorporating zeolite Y film increases with increasing size of M(A)(+). The stabilization of the surface-bound exciton by the electron-rich framework oxide and electron-poor cation is proposed to be responsible for the increase. This is the first example of a method for systematically increasing the 3NLO activity of QDs dispersed in a dielectric matrix by systematically changing its properties. These results will serve as a guideline for future research and also promote applications of QD-incorporating zeolites in various fields.
authors.affiliation: Korea Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Center for Microcrystal Assembly, Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul 121-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Byung
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D013440:Sulfides; D017641:Zeolites; C018391:lead sulfide; D007854:Lead