TEMPLATE DESIGN 2008

www.PosterPresentations.com
Heavy Metal Free colloidal Quantum Dot Photodetectors for QKD
Applications
Makhamisa Senekane and Francesco Petruccione
School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract
The purpose of this research is
to investigate the plausibility of
synthesizing photodetectors
based on heavy-metal free
colloidal quantum dots such as
Bismuth Sulphide, Indium
Sulphide and Silicon
nanocomposites.
These photodetectors are
expected to operate in the
visible to near infrared range, in
order for them to be employed
for QKD applications.
Quantum Key Distribution
Single photon Detectors
Features:
Spectral range
Dead time
Detection efficiency
Timing jitter
Photon number resolution
Figures of Merit:
Noise equivalent power
Specific detectivity (D*)

Quantum Dots
Semiconductor nanocrystals
Have sizes less than Bohr radius
Charge carriers are confined in all three
dimensions
Electronic and optical properties can be
tuned by changing size, morphology and
compositions of nanocrystals
Colloidal Quantum Dots
Synthesized from precursor compounds dissolved in
solutions (solution-processed)
Low cost synthesis
D*s of up to 10 (exp)13 Jones reported in literature
Visible to infrared detection capabilities
Hypothesis
Bismuth Sulfide, Indium Sulfide
and Silicon colloidal
nanoparticles can be bandgap-
engineered to enable detection
in the 850nm-900nm and
1300nm-1550nm ranges
These heavy metal-free
colloidal nanoparticles can have
D*s ranging between 10 (exp)11
and 10 (exp)13 Jones
If properly synthesized, they
can also have response times of
the order of a microsecond
.
Objectives
Synthesis of SPDs using Indium Sulfide,
Bismuth Sulfide and Silicon nanoparticles
These SPDs are intended to operate in the
optical free space (850nm 900nm) and optical
fiber (1300n 1550nm) ranges
Specific detectivities between 10 (exp)11 and
10 (exp) 13 Jones to be realized
Response times of the order of a microsecond
Methodology
Schottky-Barrier nanocrastals
Nucleation growth of the nanocrystals in a
solution
Synthesis to be realized using pyrolysis
method
Characterization of the nanocrystals for
optical, electrical and temporal properties
Outcomes
References
Acknowledgements
Quantum dot photodetectors colloidally
synthesized from heavy metal-free Indium
Sulfide nanostructures to be realized
Quantum dot photodetectors colloidally
synthesized from heavy metal-free
BismuthSulfide nanostructures to be
realized
Quantum dot photodetectors colloidally
synthesized from heavy metal-free
Siliconnanostructures to be realized
These photodetectors are expected to
operate in the optical free space and optical
fiber ranges, so that they could be applied in
quantum key distribution implementations



1. C.H. Bennet and G. Brassard Quantum
cryptography: public key distribution and coin
tossing. PICCS, Bangalore, India, 1984, pp 175-
179.
2. S.Cova et al. Evolution and Prospects of single
photon Avalanche diodes and quenching circuits.
NIST Workshop on Single Photon Detectors, 2003,
pp 1267 1288.
3. A.L Rogach. Semiconductor nanocrystal Quantum
Dots: Synthesis, Assembly, Spectroscopy and
Applications. Springer-Verlag, New York, 2008.

This research work is supported by:
Quantum Research Group
School of Physics
University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Research
Foundation
Pretoria
South Africa