title: Local refractive index probed via the fluorescence decay of semiconductor quantum dots.
abstract: We present a novel approach for convenient tuning of the local refractive index around nanostructures. We apply this technique to study the influence of the local refractive index on the radiative decay time of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with three distinct emission wavelengths. The dependence of the luminescence decay time on the environment is well described by an effective medium approach. A critical distance of about 80 nm is found for the determination of the effective local index of refraction. An estimation for the emitting-state quantum efficiency can be extracted.
authors.affiliation: Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5620, Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Matériaux Luminescents, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillonnet
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: Alexey I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Chizhik
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chizhik
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amans
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ledoux
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kulzer
authors.forename: Alfred J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Meixner
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dujardin
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012666:Semiconductors; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*