Photon statistics in enhanced fluorescence from a single CdSe/ZnS quantum dot in the vicinity of silver nanoparticles

Single-photon emission behavior in the enhanced fluorescence from single Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) near silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated Using a single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy technique. It was found that the degree of fluorescence enhancement from single QDs with AgNPs increased with decrease in the lifetime and the probability of single-photon emission, that is, highly enhanced fluorescence with a shortened lifetime exhibited a low probability of single-photon emission. The present results yield new insights into fundamentals of QD-metal nanostructure interactions. and are also important to understand the mechanism of the fluorescence enhancement by localized surface plasmon of metal nanostructures. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3259792]