First 3-D imaging of excited quantum dots

Phys.org (Feb. 8) -- Quantum dots are rapidly taking center stage in emerging applications and research developments, from enhanced LCD TVs and thin-film solar cells, to high-speed data transfer and fluorescent labeling in biomedical applications. Researchers are still studying how to precisely control the growth of these nanoscale particles and their underlying quantum behavior.  "Understanding how the presence of defects localizes excited electronic states of quantum dots will help to advance the engineering of these nanoparticles," said Martin Gruebele from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a co-author of the paper.