Förster Energy Transfer in Arrays of Epitaxial CdSe/ZnSe Quantum Dots Involving Bright and Dark Excitons

Abstract

Using time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, we establish the presence of the Förster energy transfer mechanism between two arrays of epitaxial CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) of different sizes. The mechanism operates through dipole–dipole interaction between ground excitonic states of the smaller QDs and excited states of the larger QDs. The dependence of energy transfer efficiency on the width of barrier separating the QD insets is shown to be in line with the Förster mechanism. The temperature dependence of the PL decay times and PL intensity suggests the involvement of dark excitons in the energy transfer process.