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We use micro-Raman spectroscopy to measure the vibrational structure of the atomically precise cadmium selenide quantum dots Cd35Se20X30L30, Cd56Se35X42L42, and Cd84Se56X56L56. These quantum dots have benzoate (X) and n-butylamine (L) ligands and tetrahedral (Td) shape with edges that range from 1.7 to 2.6 nm in length. Investigating this previously unexplored size regime allows us to identify the transition from molecular vibrations to bulk phonons in cadmium selenide quantum dots for the first time. Room-temperature Raman spectra have broad CdSe peaks at 175 and 200 cm–1. Density functional theory calculations assign these peaks to molecular surface and interior vibrational modes, respectively, and show that the interior, surface, and ligand atom motion is strongly coupled. The interior peak intensity increases relative to the surface peak as the cluster size increases due to the relative increase in the polarizability of interior modes with quantum dot size. The Raman spectra do not change with tempera...

Lead halide perovskites such as methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPI) have outstanding optical and electronic properties for photovoltaic applications, yet a full understanding of how this solution processable material works so well is currently missing. Previous research has revealed that MAPI possesses multiple forms of static disorder regardless of preparation method, which is surprising in light of its excellent performance. Using high energy resolution inelastic X-ray (HERIX) scattering, we measure phonon dispersions in MAPI and find direct evidence for another form of disorder in single crystals: large amplitude anharmonic zone-edge rotational instabilities of the PbI_6 octahedra that persist to room temperature and above, left over from structural phase transitions that take place tens to hundreds of degrees below. Phonon calculations show that the orientations of the methylammonium couple strongly and cooperatively to these modes. The result is a non-centrosymmetric, instantaneous local structure, which we observe in atomic pair distribution function (PDF) measurements. This local symmetry breaking is unobservable by Bragg diffraction, but can explain key material properties such as the structural phase sequence, ultra low thermal transport, and large minority charge carrier lifetimes despite moderate carrier mobility., 30 pages, 11 figures

Material properties depend sensitively on the atomic arrangements and atomic bonding, but these are notoriously difficult to measure in nanosized atomic clusters due to the small size of the objects and the challenge of obtaining bulk samples of identical clusters. Here we have combined the recent ability to make gram quantities of identical semiconductor quantum-dot nanoparticles with the ability to measure lattice dynamics on small sample quantities of hydrogenated materials using high energy resolution inelastic x-ray scattering (HERIX), to measure the size-dependence of the phonon density of states (PDOS) in CdSe quantum dots. The fact that we have atomically precise structural models for these nanoparticles allows the calculation of the PDOS using Density Functional Theory (DFT), providing both experimental and theoretical confirmations of the important role that the inertia of the surface capping species plays on determining the lattice dynamics., 9 pages, 6 figures

In understanding the emerging photovoltaic materials lead-halide perovskites, orientational dynamics of the organic cations has garnered much attention, whereas the lead-halide framework is the actual optoelectronically active component. The interplay between the organic and inorganic moieties is thus key to a complete picture linking structural dynamics to electronic properties. Yet the mechanism and consequences of this organic-inorganic coupling have largely been obscured. This work elucidates the unique structural role of the organic dipolar cations. Frustrated competition between the organic and inorganic structural ordering results in an incommensurate phase. The authors uncover a new hybrid amplitudon phonon showing soft mode behavior.

Lead-halide hybrid perovskite crystals have emerged as potentially materials for solar cells due to their power conversion efficiency over 20% [1]. In this work we conduct a comparative study between two hybrids (CH 3 NH 3 PbBr 3 and CH 3 NH 3 Pba 3 ) and an all-inorganic lead-halide perovskite (CsPbBr 3 ). Both have the general ABX 3 perovskite formula, with similar band gap (2.2 eV) and similar structural phase sequence, orthorhombic at low temperature, changing to tetragonal and then to cubic as temperature is increased [2]. Theoretical studies suggested that dynamic disorder, imposed by the rotation of anisotropic organic molecules in the inorganic octahedral network, plays an important role in the high photovoltaic activity presented by this perovskites [3,4].

Luminescent semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) are central to emerging technologies that range from tissue imaging to solid-state lighting. However, existing samples are heterogeneous, which has prevented atomic-resolution determination of their structures and obscured the relationship between their atomic and electronic structures. Here we report the synthesis, isolation, and structural characterization of three cadmium selenide QDs with uniform compositions (Cd35Se20(X)30(L)30, Cd56Se35(X)42(L)42, Cd84Se56(X)56(L)56; X = O2CPh, L = H2N-C4H9). Their UV-absorption spectra show a lowest energy electronic transition that decreases in energy (3.54 eV, 3.26 eV, 3.04 eV) and sharpens as the size of the QD increases (fwhm = 207 meV, 145 meV, 115 meV). The photoluminescence spectra of all three QDs are broad with large Stokes shifts characteristic of trap-luminescence. Using a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis, we determine the structures of their inorganic cores, revealing a series of pyramidal nanostuctures with cadmium terminated {111} facets. Theoretical and experimental studies on these materials will open the door to a deeper fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships in quantum-confined semiconductors.

We combine low frequency Raman scattering measurements with first-principles molecular dynamics (MD) to study the nature of dynamic disorder in hybrid lead-halide perovskite crystals. We conduct a comparative study between a hybrid (CH3NH3PbBr3) and an all-inorganic lead-halide perovskite (CsPbBr3). Both are of the general ABX3 perovskite formula, and have a similar band gap and structural phase sequence, orthorhombic at low temperature, changing first to tetragonal and then to cubic symmetry as temperature increases. In the high temperature phases, we find that both compounds show a pronounced Raman quasi-elastic central peak, indicating that both are dynamically disordered.