Perovskite Quantum Dots for Super-Resolution Optical Microscopy: Where Strong Photoluminescence Blinking Matters

Blinking nanoscale emitters, typically single molecules, are employed in single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), such as direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), to overcome Abbe's diffraction limit, offering spatial resolution of few tens of nanometers. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) feature high photostability, ultrahigh absorption cross-sections and brightness, as well as wide tunability of the emission properties, making them a compelling alternative to organic molecules. Here, CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, the latest addition to the QD family, are explored as probes in SMLM. Because of the strongly suppressed QD photoluminescence blinking (ON/OFF occurrence higher than 90%), it is difficult to resolve emitters with overlapping point-spread functions by standard dSTORM methods due to false localizations. A new workflow based on ellipticity filtering efficiently identifies false localizations and allows the precise localization of QDs with subwavelength spatial resolution. Aided by Monte-Carlo simulations, the optimal QD blinking dynamics for dSTORM applications is identified, harnessing the benefits of higher QD absorption cross-section and the enhanced QD photostability to further expand the field of QD super-resolution microscopy toward sub-nanometer spatial resolution.

Automated summary

The study explores CsPbBr3 nanocrystals as probes in single-molecule localization microscopy, introducing a new workflow that efficiently identifies false localizations to achieve precise localization with subwavelength spatial resolution. Through Monte-Carlo simulations, the optimal quantum dot blinking dynamics for dSTORM applications is identified, leveraging the benefits of higher absorption cross-sections and enhanced photostability to push the boundaries of quantum dot super-resolution microscopy towards sub-nanometer spatial resolution.