Development of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials is an inevitable step in realizing novel devices based on 2D materials and heterostructures. However, due to existence of numerous polytypes and occurrence of additional phases, the synthesis of 2D films remains a difficult task. This paper reports on MBE growth of GaSe, InSe, and GaTe layers and related heterostructures on GaAs(001) substrates by using a Se valve cracking cell and group III metal effusion cells. The sophisticated self-consistent analysis of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy data was used to establish the correlation between growth conditions, formed polytypes and additional phases, surface morphology and crystalline structure of the III–VI 2D layers. The photoluminescence and Raman spectra of the grown films are discussed in detail to confirm or correct the structural findings. The requirement of a high growth temperature for the fabrication of optically active 2D layers was confirmed for all materials. However, this also facilitated the strong diffusion of group III metals in III–VI and III–VI/II–VI heterostructures. In particular, the strong In diffusion into the underlying ZnSe layers was observed in ZnSe/InSe/ZnSe quantum well structures, and the Ga diffusion into the top InSe layer grown at ~450 °C was confirmed by the Raman data in the InSe/GaSe heterostructures. The results on fabrication of the GaSe/GaTe quantum well structures are presented as well, although the choice of optimum growth temperatures to make them optically active is still a challenge.

Photoluminescence (PL) properties of type-II InSb/InAs periodic nanostructures containing above-monolayer (ML)-thick InSb insertions, grown by molecular beam epitaxy, are studied by using an FTIR spectrometer in wide temperature range. The samples exhibit bright PL in the 3.5–5.5 μ m range, which is attributed to recombination of holes localized in InSb with electrons accumulated nearby in the InAs matrix. An increase in the InSb nominal thickness from 1 ML to 1.6 ML results in an increase of the PL peak wavelength up to 5.5 μ m (300 K), and significantly improves luminescence intensity at 300 K due to a twice larger energy of hole localization. The InSb/InAs nanostructures also demonstrate an anomalous ‘blue’ shift of the PL peak energy as the temperature increases in the 12–80 K range, which is attributed to the thermally induced population of localized states in the InSb insertions, emerging due to composition/thickness fluctuations. Sb segregation in the cap InAs barrier smooths the potential inhomogeneities in the insertions, which reduces the broadening parameter.

A method for measuring photoreflectance (PR) by using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer has been implemented. Features of application of the phase-correction method necessary for...

We present the results of a temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy study on CuInS₂ quantum dots (QDs). In order to elucidate the influence of QD size on PL temperature dependence, size-selective precipitation was used to obtain several nanoparticle fractions. Additionally, the nanoparticles’ morphology and chemical composition were studied using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained QDs showed luminescence in the visible–near infrared range. The PL energy, linewidth, and intensity were studied within an 11–300 K interval. For all fractions, a temperature decrease led to a shift in the emission maximum to higher energies and pronounced growth of the PL intensity down to 75–100 K. It was found that for large particle fractions, the PL intensity started to decrease, with temperature decreasing below 75 K, while the PL intensity of small nanoparticles remained stable.

A synthesis protocol of polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped AgInS₂ quantum dots in aqueous solution is reported. Nanoparticle morphology and chemical composition were studied by means of TEM, XRD, XPS, and FTIR. The obtained quantum dots were luminescent in the visible range. The photoluminescence intensity dependence on the polyvinylpyrrolidone amount was demonstrated. The wavelength of the emission maximum varied with changing the [Ag]:[In] molar ratio. The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence intensity of the polyvinylpyrrolidone-capped AgInS₂ quantum dots was investigated within the temperature range of 11–294 K.