The Possibility and Implications of Dynamic Nanoparticle Surfaces

Understanding the precise nature of a surface or interface is a key component toward optimizing the desired properties and function of a material. For semiconductor nanocrystals, the surface has been shown to modulate fluorescence efficiency, lifetime, and intermittency. The theoretical picture of a nanocrystal surface has included the existence of an undefined mixture of trap states that arise from incomplete passivation. However, our recent scanning transmission electron microscope movies and supporting theoretical evidence suggest that, under excitation, the surface is fluctuating, creating a dynamic population of surface and subsurface states. This possibility challenges our fundamental understanding of the surface and could have far-reaching ramifications for nanoparticle-based technologies. In this Perspective, we discuss the current theories behind the optical properties of nanocrystals in the context of fluxionality.