On October 5th, 2023, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given to scientists Mungi Bavendi, Louis Bruce, and Alexey Ekimov – the discoverers of nano-objects called “quantum dots.” Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconductor crystals whose optical properties are determined by their size, which is their main characteristic. The physical significance is that semiconductor nanocrystals with the same atomic composition and structure but different sizes have different bandgap values, and therefore different optical properties. This allows for fine-tuning the optical properties of nano-objects by changing their sizes.

The synthesis of quantum dots with subsequent modification of their optical properties is an active area of research not only abroad but also in Russian science.

For our group (LPI RAS, branch in Troitsk, MPSU, ISAN), quantum dot photonics is one of the main scientific directions in the field of fundamental and applied physics and physical chemistry. The theoretical physics department named after Edward V. Shpolsky at IPTIS MPSU conducts experimental studies of the physical properties of various materials, solutions, and other physical objects – both macro and nano-sized. The department was one of the founders of the scientific direction of selective laser spectroscopy (Shpolsky effect, Personov’s effect) and actively participates in research on the synthesis and study of the properties of new prospective materials and nanostructures: fluorescent spectroscopy, super high-resolution microscopy (nanoscopy), atomic force microscopy, Raman scattering, and many other interesting topics that have become interdisciplinary and combine physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.

In the laboratory of electronic spectra of molecules at the ISAN under the guidance of A.V. Naumov were conducted some of the first experiments in the Russian Federation on the detection of spectra and nanoscopy of single colloidal quantum dots. This work was a logical continuation of the research in the field of single molecule spectroscopy. A unique Quantum Emitters Laboratory is being created at the LPI RAS, branch in Troitsk.

Study in this area is conducted in close cooperation with leading scientific and educational centers of Russia and the world, such as the Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow State University (MSU), the the Institute of Automation and Electrometry Siberian Branch of RAS, Skoltech, ISAN, the Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of RAS, Lund University (Sweden), Queensland University (Australia), and the B.I. Stepanov Institute of Physics (Minsk, Belarus).

The research results are published in high-level peer-reviewed journals, presented at plenary reports and invited lectures at major specialized conferences and symposiums. The works of young scientists from MPSU in the field of quantum dot physics have been recognized with various awards and prizes, including publications in the journal “Photonics Russia.”
• A. I. Arzhanov, A. O. Savostyanov, K. A. Magaryan, K. R. Karimullin, A. V. Naumov, Фотоника полупроводниковых квантовых точек: фундаментальные аспекты // Photonics. 2021. Vol. 15. No. 8. P. 622-640. DOI: 10.22184/1993-7296.FRos.2021.15.8.622.640
• Arzhanov A. I., Savostyanov A. O., Magaryan K. A., Karimullin K. R., Naumov A. V., Фотоника полупроводниковых квантовых точек: прикладные аспекты // Photonics. 2022. – Vol. 16, No. 2. – P. 96-112. DOI: 10.22184/1993-7296.FRos.2022.16.2.96.112

The results of joint work with the group of the well-known scientist, head of the laboratory of the Institute of Automation and Electrometry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk), corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor N.V. Surovtsev, in the direction of studying electron-phonon interaction in composites with quantum dots was published in a series of articles:
• K. R. Karimullin, A. I. Arzhanov, N. V. Surovtsev, A. V. Naumov, Электрон-фононное взаимодействие в композитах с коллоидными квантовыми точками: исследование методами люминесцентной спектроскопии и комбинационного рассеяния света // Optics and Spectroscopy. 2022. Vol. 130. No. 1. P. 146-150 DOI: 10.21883/OS.2022.01.51902.42-21
• Karimullin, K. R., Arzhanov, A. I., Eremchev, I. Y., Kulnitskiy, B. A., Surovtsev, N. V., & Naumov, A. V. Combined photon-echo, luminescence and Raman spectroscopies of layered ensembles of colloidal quantum dots // Laser Physics. 2019. Vol. 29. No. 12. Art. No. 124009. DOI: 10.1088/1555-6611/ab4bdb

In addition to the study of quantum dot interactions with the environment in nanocomposites with quantum dots, the research group also investigates photoluminescence blinking effects, ultrafast dynamics (using photon echo techniques), and non-radiative processes (using luminescence kinetics measurement techniques) including at the level of individual quantum dots:
• K.R. Karimullin, A.I. Arzhanov, A.V. Naumov, Изготовление и оптическая характеризация нанокомпозитов с полупроводниковыми коллоидными квантовыми точками // Известия РАН. Серия физическая. 2017. Т. 81. № 12. С. 1581-1586. [K.R. Karimullin, A.I. Arzhanov, A.V. Naumov, Preparation and Optical Characterization of Nanocomposites with Semiconductor Colloidal Quantum Dots // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics. 2017. V. 81. №. 12- . P. 1396-1400]
• Arzhanov A.I., Karimullin K.R., Naumov A.V. Incoherent Photon Echo in an Inhomogeneous Ensemble of Semiconductor Colloidal Quantum Dots at Low Temperatures // Bulletin of the Lebedev Physics Institute. 2018. V. 45. № 3. P. 91-94.

In a series of works carried out by the experimental group of I.Y. Eremchev, in collaboration with the renowned theoretical physicist P.A. Frantsuzov (Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, SB RAS), experiments have been conducted, and theories have been developed describing relaxation dynamics in single quantum dots.
• Eduard A. Podshivaylov, Maria A. Kniazeva, Aleksei A. Gorshelev, Ivan Yu. Eremchev, Andrei V. Naumov, and Pavel A. Frantsuzov. Contribution of electron-phonon coupling to the luminescence spectra of single colloidal quantum dots // J. Chem. Phys. . 2019. V. 151. Art. № 174710. DOI: 10.1063/1.5124913
• Eduard A. Podshivaylov, Maria A. Kniazeva, Alexander O. Tarasevich, Ivan Yu. Eremchev, Andrei V. Naumov and Pavel A. Frantsuzov. A quantitative model of multi-scale single quantum dot blinking // Journal of Materials Chemistry C. 2023, 11, 8570-8576 DOI: 10.1039/D3TC00638G

Significant results were also obtained in the same research direction a few years ago in collaboration with the outstanding theoretical physicist Prof. I.S. Osad’ko:
• I.Yu Eremchev, I.S. Osad’ko, A.V. Naumov, Auger Ionization and Tunneling Neutralization of Single CdSe/ZnS Nanocrystals Revealed by Excitation Intensity Variation // Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 2016. V. 120. №. 38. P. 22004–22011.
• I.S. Osad’ko, I.Yu. Eremchev, A.V. Naumov, I.S. Osad’ko, I.Yu. Eremchev, A.V. Naumov, Two mechanisms of fluorescence intermittency in single core/shell quantum dot // J.Phys.Chem.C 2015. V. 119. P. 22646-22652

The candidate dissertation of Magaryan K.A. on the topic “Spectral-luminescent properties of nanocomposites with CdSe quantum dots grown in the liquid crystalline phase of cadmium alkanate” was successfully defended in 2019. In 2023, Arzhanov A.I. presented his dissertation for defense on “Low-temperature dynamics of composites with semiconductor colloidal quantum dots: microscopy and optical spectroscopy with high temporal and spatial resolution”.

At MPSU, the following scientific grants were implemented in the direction of quantum dot research:
– The grant of the President of the Russian Federation for the state support of young Russian scientists-candidates of sciences “Nanocomposites with semiconductor quantum dots: research using selective laser spectroscopy with high temporal and spatial resolution” MK-342.2017.2 (2017-2018) Supervisor Karimullin K.R.
– Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research “Study of the optical properties of single quantum emitters and their ensembles in dielectric media under the influence of laser radiation” 16-02-01174 (2016-2018) Supervisor Gladush M.G.
– Grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research “Optical echo-spectroscopy and fluorescent microscopy of new fluorescent nanomaterials with semiconductor colloidal quantum dots” 18-02-01121-A (2018-2020) Supervisor Karimullin K.R.
– Grant of the President of the Russian Federation to support leading scientific schools of the Russian Federation “Optical-spectral nanoscopy of quantum objects and diagnostics of promising materials” NH-776.2022.1.2 (2022-2023) Supervisor A.V. Naumov

MPSU conducts research in the field of spectroscopy of quantum dots, which combines methods of super-high-resolution fluorescent microscopy and physical chemistry of quantum dots. This confirms the relevance of the chosen research directions in the Laboratory of Physics of Advanced Materials and Nanostructures of IPTIS MPSU, which is supported by the State assignment of MPSU with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, as well as the grant of the President of the Russian Federation for the Leading scientific school under the supervision of corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Naumov A.V.