Exploring the Tunneling Based Photoluminescence Photo-switching Properties of Photochromic Molecule Crosslinked PbS Quantum Dots

We report a novel method for composing tunneling-based photo-switches that exhibit several desirable properties. Our study demonstrates that systems of quantum dots (QDs) bridged by photochromic molecules (PCMs) can result in reversible and robust photo-switching. We establish that tunneling is the most likely mechanism behind the switching of our system by ruling out other potential mechanisms. Through careful experimental and computational studies, we show that the extent of photo-switching in our system is highly dependent on the energy levels of the photochromic molecules, the size of the quantum dots, the length of the photochromic molecules, and the QD/PCM bonding.
By manipulating these parameters within our basic system architecture, we can create photo-switches with tunable photoluminescence (PL) switching amounts, suitable for various applications, including potential use as optical switches in photonic systems. Finally, we identify key areas for future research and provide recommendations necessary to enhance the system's viability for real-world applications.