Electron and Hole Adducts Formed in Illuminated InP Colloidal Quantum Dots Studied by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of photoexcited colloidal InP quantum dots (QD) shows the formation of electron and hole adducts. An EPR signal at g = 0.58 is assigned to a nonradiative hole trap that does not form immediately upon illumination, but forms only after the illuminated sample ages and becomes stabilized at room temperature; it then becomes permanent at the InP QD surface. This signal completely disappears upon electron injection into the QD from a reducing agent (sodium biphenyl). Light immediately quenches the signal at g = 0.58, and it re-forms reversibly when the light is turned off. A signal at g = 2.055 is assigned to electron surface traps, and it appears in nonetched QD samples; it completely disappears after etching with HF. A signal at g = 2.001 has a very narrow line width and is assigned to delocalized mobile holes that are located in the QD core. A defect model for InP QDs is proposed based on the EPR results reported here plus results from optically detected magnetic resonance experiments reported separately.