Fluorescence blinking in MoS2 atomic layers by single photon energy transfer

The quantum optical phenomena, such as single photon emission, in two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have triggered extensive researches on 2D material-based quantum optics and devices. By far, most reported quantum optical emissions in TMDCs are based on atomic defects in the material or the local confinement of excitons by introducing local stain or potential. In contrast, energy transfer between two materials could also manipulate the photon emission behaviors in materials, even at the single photon level. Along with the single-photon emission nature of zero-dimensional (0D) quantum dots (QDs) at room temperature, constructing a 0D-2D hybrid heterostructure may provide an effective way to regulate the quantum states related optical emissions of TMDCs. Here, we report on fluorescence blinking, a quantum phenomenon, from MoS2 atomic layers in QD/ MoS2 heterostructure at room temperature. We demonstrate the single-photon nature of the QDs in heterostructures by second-order photon correlation measurements. Based on the transient PL spectroscopy and PL time trajectories, we attribute the fluorescence blinking behavior in MoS2 to the single photon energy transfer from QD to MoS2. Our work opens the possibility to achieve correlated quantum emitters in TMDCs at room temperature by controlling the energy transfer between QD and TMDCs.

Dynamic host–guest interaction enables autonomous single molecule blinking and super-resolution imaging

Specific yet dynamic interaction in cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) system was used to obtain programmable fluorescence blinking with necessary brightness and frequency to enable two-dimensional (2D) and 3D super-resolution imaging of proteins in cells.