Temperature and size-dependent suppression of Auger recombination in quantum-confined lead salt nanowires

TL;DR

This study predicts that Auger recombination in lead salt nanowires can be significantly suppressed by reducing temperature and nanowire size, enhancing their potential for lasing applications.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical prediction that AR suppression depends on temperature and nanowire radius, specific to lead salt nanowires with strong band coupling.

Findings

AR is suppressed at lower temperatures and smaller radii.

Suppression is due to decreased population of excited states and phonon-broadened overlaps.

Lead salt NWs are promising for lasing due to reduced Auger recombination.

Abstract

Auger recombination (AR) of the ground biexciton state in quantum-confined lead salt nanowires (NWs) with a strong coupling between the conduction and the valence bands is shown to be strongly suppressed, and only excited biexciton states contribute to Auger decay. The AR rate is predicted to be greatly reduced when temperature or the NW radius are decreased, and the effect is explained by decrease in both the population of excited biexciton states and overlap of phonon-broadened single- and biexciton states. Suppression of AR of multiexciton states exhibiting strong radiative decay makes obviously lead salt NWs a subject of special interest for numerous lasing applications.