Effect of 160 MeV Ni12+ ion irradiation on PbS quantum dots

PbS quantum dots of average size 10 nm are encapsulated in a matrix (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) following chemical route. They are irradiated with 160 MeV Ni12+ ion beam with fluences 1012–1013 ions/cm2. Red shift in the absorption response in the optical absorption spectra reveal size enhancement of the quantum dots after irradiation and was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Photoluminescence (PL) study was carried out with excitation wavelength 325 nm on both unirradiated and irradiated samples at different fluences and fluence-dependent surface states and excitonic emission is observed in the PL study. The Huang–Rhys coupling constant decreases significantly after swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation and shows a decreasing trend with increase in ion fluence.