arXiv subjects

Andrei V. Sapelkin

Publications and source records attributed to Andrei V. Sapelkin.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Atomic structure of CdS magic-size clusters by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Magic-size clusters are ultra-small colloidal semiconductor systems that are intensively studied due to their monodisperse nature and sharp UV-vis absorption peak compared with regular quantum dots. However, the small size of such clusters (<2 nm), and the large surface-to-bulk ratio significantly limit characterisation techniques that can be utilised. Here we demonstrate how a combination of EXAFS and XANES can be used to obtain information about sample stoichiometry and cluster symmetry. Investigating two types of clusters that show sharp UV-vis absorption peaks at 311 nm and 322 nm, we found that both samples possess approximately 2:1 Cd:S ratio and have similar nearest-neighbour structural arrangements. However, both samples demonstrate a significant departure from the tetrahedral structural arrangement, with an average bond angle determined to be around 106.1 degree showing a bi-fold bond angle distribution. Our results suggest that both samples are quazi-isomers. Their core structure has identical chemical composition but a different atomic arrangement with distinct bond angle distributions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Spectroscopic super-resolution fluorescence cell imaging using ultra-small Ge quantum dots

In single molecule localisation super-resolution microscopy the need for repeated image capture limits the imaging speed, while the size of fluorescence probes limits the possible theoretical localisation resolution. Here, we demonstrated a spectral imaging based super-resolution approach by separating the overlapping diffraction spots into several detectors during a single scanning period and taking advantage of the size-dependent emission wavelength in nanoparticles. This approach has been tested using off-the-shelf quantum dots (Qdot) and in-house novel ultra-small (~3 nm) Ge QDs. Furthermore, we developed a method-specific Gaussian fitting and maximum likelihood estimation based on a Matlab algorithm for fast QDs localisation. We demonstrate that this methodology results in ~ 40 nm localisation resolution using commercial QDs and ~12 nm localisation resolution using Ge QDs. Using a standard scanning confocal microscope we achieved data acquisition rate of 1.6 seconds/frame. However, we show that this approach has a potential to deliver data acquisition rates on ms scale thus providing super-resolution in live systems.

physics.optics↗