Self-Organization and Photoluminescence Properties of Pb_1-xSn_xTe Nanodots Embedded in a Wide Bandgap CdTe Matrix

Abstract

This paper describes molecular beam epitaxial growth and photoluminescence properties of single-crystalline Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te nanodots embedded in a wide bandgap CdTe host matrix. These nanodots were self-organized by postgrowth annealing of a lattice-type mismatched Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te(rocksalt)/CdTe(zincblende) single quantum well. A highly efficient midinfrared emission in the 3∼5μm atmospheric window was observed from the nanodots even at higher temperatures than 300K. By considering both effects of strain-induced band deformation and quantum confinement in nanodot potentials, the emission energy observed was found to agree with the theoretical transition energy in the type I quantum well.