Atomic Force Microscopy and Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Study of Quantum-Dot Assemblies and Fractal Films

Quantum dots and nanocrystalline films are interesting materials due to their novel properties, not achievable from the bulk materials [1]. New materials fabricated by assembling of quantum dots and nanostructured materials exhibit, for example, high optical nonlinearities. Fractal structures [2] can be formed from quantum-dot aggregates or films. Scanning probe microscopy is the essential technique to characterize these nanometer-scaled materials?Gold nanocluster colloids are synthesized in the interior of surfactant aggregates known as inverse micelles, without the use of water to solubilize the metal salt [3]. The size of the Au quantum dots is well controlled in the colloid synthesis and selected using chromatography. The Au clusters are then sprayed onto a glass slides to form thin films made of Au quantum dots. We have also used the laser ablation technique [4] to grow Ag nanoparticles, fractal aggregates and thin films. These samples have been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nearfield scanning optical microscopy.