Vapour sensitivity of InP Surface Quantum Dots

We studied the effect of solvent vapours on the photoluminescent emission of self-assembled InP surface quantum dots (SQDs). Their room temperature near infrared emission undergoes a fully reversible intensity enhancement when the dots were exposed to vapours of polar solvents since polar molecules are likely to be adsorbed onto intrinsic surface states and thus reducing non radiative surface recombination. The shape and position of the emission band does not change. The observed effect is dependent on solvent type and concentration with linear law over a limited concentration range.