Sub-Picosecond Carrier Dynamics Explored using Automated High-Throughput Studies of Doping Inhomogeneity within a Bayesian Framework

Abstract

Bottom–up production of semiconductor nanomaterials is often accompanied by inhomogeneity resulting in a spread in electronic properties which may be influenced by the nanoparticle geometry, crystal quality, stoichiometry, or doping. Using photoluminescence spectroscopy of a population of more than 11 000 individual zinc-doped gallium arsenide nanowires, inhomogeneity is revealed in, and correlation between doping and nanowire diameter by use of a Bayesian statistical approach. Recombination of hot-carriers is shown to be responsible for the photoluminescence lineshape; by exploiting lifetime variation across the population, hot-carrier dynamics is revealed at the sub-picosecond timescale showing interband electronic dynamics. High-throughput spectroscopy together with a Bayesian approach are shown to provide unique insight in an inhomogeneous nanomaterial population, and can reveal electronic dynamics otherwise requiring complex pump-probe experiments in highly non-equilibrium conditions.