title: Non-blinking quantum dot with a plasmonic nanoshell resonator.
abstract: Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots are fluorescent nanocrystals exhibiting exceptional optical properties, but their emission intensity strongly depends on their charging state and local environment. This leads to blinking at the single-particle level or even complete fluorescence quenching, and limits the applications of quantum dots as fluorescent particles. Here, we show that a single quantum dot encapsulated in a silica shell coated with a continuous gold nanoshell provides a system with a stable and Poissonian emission at room temperature that is preserved regardless of drastic changes in the local environment. This novel hybrid quantum dot/silica/gold structure behaves as a plasmonic resonator with a strong Purcell factor, in very good agreement with simulations. The gold nanoshell also acts as a shield that protects the quantum dot fluorescence and enhances its resistance to high-power photoexcitation or high-energy electron beams. This plasmonic fluorescent resonator opens the way to a new family of plasmonic nanoemitters with robust optical properties.
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Botao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovanelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS UMR 8501, Université Paris-Sud, 2 avenue Augustin Fresnel, 91127 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habert
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Piernicola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spinicelli
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasilowski
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Xiangzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lequeux
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS UMR 8501, Université Paris-Sud, 2 avenue Augustin Fresnel, 91127 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hugonin
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS UMR 8501, Université Paris-Sud, 2 avenue Augustin Fresnel, 91127 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marquier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Fabry, Institut d'Optique Graduate School, CNRS UMR 8501, Université Paris-Sud, 2 avenue Augustin Fresnel, 91127 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Greffet
authors.affiliation: LPEM, ESPCI-ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8213, Sorbonnes Université, UPMC Paris VI, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dubertret