Photoluminescence intermittency from single quantum dots to organic molecules: Emerging themes

Abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical studies of photoluminescence intermittency (PI) or "blinking" exhibited by single core/shell quantum dots and single organic luminophores are reviewed. For quantum dots, a discussion of early models describing the origin of PI in these materials and recent challenges to these models are presented. For organic luminophores the role of electron transfer, proton transfer and other photophysical processes in PI are discussed. Finally, new experimental and data analysis methods are outlined that promise to be instrumental in future discoveries regarding the origin(s) of PI exhibited by single emitters. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.