Phonon-assisted energy transfer from barrier states into quantum dots

Interactions of semiconductor quantum dots (QD's) with their nano-environment can significantly alter their electronic properties. In this work we present results of time-resolved cathodoluminescence for single ZnCdSe QD's identifying a slow carrier feeding mechanism which leads to long-living excitonic luminescence. The feeding is attributed to phonon-assisted tunneling of charge carriers trapped in the vicinity of the QD's.