Nanoparticles and quantum dots

We have built a portfolio of colloidal synthetic routes a variety of complex 0-D nanostructures, and use them as building blocks for creating new nanostructured materials with engineered optical and electronic properties.

  • Spherical and rod-like, highly monodispersed quantum dots with a multiple core-shell structure to obtain controlled optical properties and outstanding quantum yield (>85%)

  • Study of the kinetics and mechanisms of diffusion at the nanoscale, as a way of controlling the optical properties and the quantum yield through thermal treatments

  • Experimental investigation and modeling of the nucleation and growth kinetics of nanoparticles to determine the conditions for the maximum reaction yield and waste minimization in large-scale production of nanoparticles

  • Fullerene-capped quantum dots as an efficiency-enhancing additive to organic solar cells

  • Metal nanostars as efficient substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

  • Hybrid metal-semiconductor core-shell nanoparticles as Raman-based stable optical labels

Publications, Presentations and Patents

Slejko EA and Lughi V, “Engineering of colloidal nanocrystal thin films and their optoelectronic properties: a simple and effective route”, Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects 22, 100432 (2020)

Slejko EA, Lughi V, “Size Control at Maximum Yield and Growth Kinetics of Colloidal II–VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals”, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 123 (2), 1421-1428 (2018)

EA Slejko, V Sayevich, B Cai, N Gaponik, V Lughi, V Lesnyak, Alexander Eychmüller, "Precise Engineering of Nanocrystal Shells via Colloidal Atomic Layer Deposition", Chemistry of Materials 29, pp 8111-8118 (2017)

Lughi V, “Diffusion at the Nanoscale”. Nanax7, Marburg (Germany), April 2016

Lughi V, Bonifacio A, Cozzarini L, Nanoparticelle per la rilevazione mediante spettroscopia di analiti e relativo procedimento di realizzazione. Patent 0001420464

Morales Vega M, Bonifacio A, Lughi V, Marsi S, Carrato S, Sergo V, “Long-term stability of surfactant-free gold nanostars”. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 16, 2729 (2014)

Cacovich S, Divitini G, Capria E, Fraleoni Morgera A, Lughi V, Ducati C, "Nanoscale characterisation of hybrid photovoltaic cells based on C61 capped CdSe QDs". Journal of Physics: Conference Series 522 (1), 012071 (2014)

Spalatu N, Hiie J, Valdna V, Caraman M, Maticiuc N, Mikli V, Potlog T, Krunks M, Lughi V, "Properties of CdCl2 Air-annealed CSS CdTe Thin Films". Energy Procedia 44, pp. 85-95 (2014)

Lughi V, Bonifacio A, Barbone M, Marsich L, Sergo V, “Surface-enhanced Raman effect in hybrid metal-semiconductor nanoparticle assemblies”. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 15 (5) , art. no. 1663 (2013)

Lughi V (2012), Optical and Electronic Properties. Springer Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology. Springer

Lughi V (2012), Surface Energy and Chemical Potential at the Nanoscale. Springer Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology. Springer

Lughi V, Pavan L, Cozzarini L, “Interdiffusion-controlled Optical Properties in Nanocrystalline Heterostructures and Nanostructured Materials”, MRS Spring Meeting 2011, San Francisco (USA), April 2011

Maticiuc N, Potlog T, Hiie J, Mikli V, Põldme N, Raadik T, Valdna V, Mere A, Gavrilov A, Quinci F, Lughi V, Sergo V. Structural changes in chemically deposited CdS: Effect of Thermal Annealing. Mold J. of Phys. Sciences. 9(3-4). pp.275-279 (2010)

Hiie, J., Quinci, F., Lughi, V., Sergo, V., Valdna, V., Mikli, V., Kärber, E., Raadik, T. “Chlorine doping of cadmium sulfide on the example of CBD CdS”, Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings 1165, p. 315, 2010

Cozzarini L, Delben M, Radivo A, Antoniolli F, Lughi V, “Optical and structural properties of CdSe/ZnSe core-shell nanocrystals for novel colloidal materials”, NANAX4, Munich (Germany), April 2010

Lughi V, Slejko E, Radivo A, Antoniolli F, Andrea, “Equilibrium size maps and novel aspects of the growth kinetics of CdSe nanocrystals”, NANAX4, Munich (Germany), April 2010