The Chemical Record, 23, e202300120 (2023)

Application of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy in the Studies of Colloidal Quantum Qots

Jiaying Duan¹, Jiapeng Wang¹, Liangpeng Hou¹, Peixuan Ji¹, Wusheng Zhang¹, Jin Liu¹, Xiaodong Zhu¹, Zhixiang Sun^2, Yanqing Ma¹ and Lei Ma^1,*

1 Tianjin International Center for Nanoparticles and NanoSystems, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072.

2 Center for Joint Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 300072.

* Lei.ma@tju.edu.cn

Abstract

Colloidal quantum dots display remarkable optical and electrical characteristics with the potential for extensive applications in contemporary nanotechnology. As an ideal instrumentfor examining surface topography and local density of states (LDOS) at an atomic scale, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) has becomeindispensable approaches to gain better understanding of their physical properties. This article presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements in measuring the electronic orbits and corresponding energy levels of colloidal quantum dots in various systems using STM and STS. The first three sections introduce the basic principles of colloidal quantum dots synthesis and the fundamental methodology of STM research on quantum dots. The fourth section explores the latest progress in the application of STM for colloidal quantum dot studies. Finally, a summary and prospective is presented.