Spatially Resolved Dynamics of Cobalt Color Centers in ZnO Nanowires

The dynamics of color centers, being a promising quantum technology, is strongly dependent on the local environment. A synergistic approach of X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) using a hard X-ray nanoprobe is applied. The simultaneous acquisition provides insights into compositional and functional variations at the nanoscale demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of these combined techniques. The findings on cobalt doped zinc oxide nanowires show an anticorrelation between the band edge emission of the zinc oxide host and the intra-3d cobalt luminescence, indicating two competing recombination paths. Moreover, time-resolved XEOL measurements reveal two exponential decays of the cobalt luminescence. The fast and newly observed one can be attributed to a recombination cascade within the cobalt atom, resulting from direct excitation. Thus, this opens a new fast timescale for potential devices based on cobalt color centers in ZnO nanowires in photonic circuits.

Automated summary

The dynamics of color centers in quantum technology are influenced by the local environment, and a combined approach of X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) was used to study this relationship. The simultaneous acquisition of data revealed compositional and functional variations at the nanoscale, demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of these techniques. The findings on cobalt doped zinc oxide nanowires showed an anticorrelation between the band edge emission of the zinc oxide host and the intra-3d cobalt luminescence, indicating two competing recombination paths. Time-resolved XEOL measurements also revealed two exponential decays of the cobalt luminescence, with the fast decay attributed to a recombination cascade within the cobalt atom.