Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot

Zhiyuan Wang; Jiahao Han; Xiaoqi Hou; Jianwei Tang; Weixi Liu; Weiwang Xu; Zhaohua Tian; Hongli Chen; Jinkang Cao; Yaocheng Shi; Haiyan Qin; Xue-Wen Chen

doi:10.1186/s43593-026-00128-x

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot

eLight 2026年6卷

Research Article | Updated：2026-07-21

- Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot
- Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot
- Affiliations：
- Author bio：
- Funds：
  
  National Natural Science Foundation of China;Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities;Hubei Provincial Talent Program
- DOI：10.1186/s43593-026-00128-x
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2025-10-27，
  
  修回：2026-01-29，
  
  录用：2026-02-17，
  
  网络首发：2026-03-18，
  
  纸质出版：2026-12
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Zhiyuan Wang, Jiahao Han, Xiaoqi Hou, 等. Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot[J]. eLight, 2026,6.

Zhiyuan Wang, Jiahao Han, Xiaoqi Hou, et al. Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot[J]. eLight, 2026, 6.
Zhiyuan Wang, Jiahao Han, Xiaoqi Hou, 等. Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot[J]. eLight, 2026,6. DOI： 10.1186/s43593-026-00128-x.

Zhiyuan Wang, Jiahao Han, Xiaoqi Hou, et al. Scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy using a single quantum dot[J]. eLight, 2026, 6. DOI： 10.1186/s43593-026-00128-x.

摘要

Abstract

Mapping light fields and local density of optical states (LDOS) around nanostructured materials is instrumental for advancing both fundamentals and practical applications in nano-optics

nanomaterial science

and quantum technologies. In particular

LDOS governs key processes such as spontaneous emission

light scattering

van der Waals interactions

and nanoscale heat transfer

yet it remains inaccessible with conventional optical microscopy techniques. Here

we develop scanning-exciton optical nanoscopy to simultaneously map the light intensity and LDOS near plasmonic and dielectric photonic structures with a few-nanometer resolution. By grafting a rationally designed core–shell-shell quantum dot to a silica nanotip

we obtain an ultra-photostable and sensitive scanning quantum probe carrying excitons that are generated and decay at the rates proportional to the local light intensity and LDOS

respectively. We first demonstrate the correlative dual-parameter sensing capability using a model plasmonic structure

and subsequently apply it to uncover previously unobservable nanoscale coupling physics occurring in a plasmonic trimer. Furthermore

we report the first optical mapping of LDOS over a photonic-crystal nanocavity

visualizing the resonant nanocavity mode and its position-dependent coupling with a quantum emitter

essential for quantum photonic applications. Our work demonstrates a transformative technique towards bridging the gap between surface morphology and far-field optical response

and constitutes a platform for exploring light-matter interactions at deep-nanoscale and single-quanta level.

关键词

Keywords

references

H. Benisty , J.-J. Greffet , P. Lalanne , Introduction to Nanophotonics ( Oxford University Press , 2022 ).

Y. Yang , Y. Jeon , Z. Dong , J.K.W. Yang , M. Haddadi Moghaddam , D.-S. Kim , D.K. Oh , J. Lee , M. Hentschel , H. Giessen , D. Kang , G. Kim , T. Tanaka , Y. Zhao , J. Bürger , S.A. Maier , H. Ren , W. Jung , M. Choi , G. Bae , H. Chen , S. Jeon , J. Kim , E. Lee , H. Kang , Y. Park , D. Du Nguyen , I. Kim , P. Cencillo-Abad , D. Chanda , X. Jing , N. Liu , I.V. Martynenko , T. Liedl , Y. Kwak , J.-M. Nam , S.-M. Park , T.W. Odom , H.-E. Lee , R.M. Kim , K.T. Nam , H. Kwon , H.-H. Jeong , P. Fischer , J. Yoon , S.-H. Kim , S. Shim , D. Lee , L.A. Pérez , X. Qi , A. Mihi , H. Keum , M. Shim , S. Kim , H. Jang , Y.S. Jung , C. Rossner , T.A.F. König , A. Fery , Z. Li , K. Aydin , C.A. Mirkin , J. Seong , N. Jeon , Z. Xu , T. Gu , J. Hu , H. Kwon , H. Jung , H. Alijani , I. Aharonovich , J. Kim , J. Rho , Nanofabrication for Nanophotonics . ACS Nano 19 , 12491 - 12605 ( 2025 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c10964 http://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c10964

J.J. Baumberg , J. Aizpurua , M.H. Mikkelsen , D.R. Smith , Extreme nanophotonics from ultrathin metallic gaps . Nat. Mater. 18 , 668 - 678 ( 2019 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0290-y http://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0290-y

D.G. Baranov , M. Wersall , J. Cuadra , T.J. Antosiewicz , T. Shegai , Novel nanostructures and materials for strong light matter interactions . ACS Photonics 5 , 24 - 42 ( 2018 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.7b00674 http://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.7b00674

A. González-Tudela , A. Reiserer , J.J. García-Ripoll , F.J. García-Vidal , Light–matter interactions in quantum nanophotonic devices . Nat. Rev. Phys. 6 , 166 - 179 ( 2024 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-023-00681-1 http://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-023-00681-1

D.D.A. Clarke , O. Hess , Near-field strong coupling and entanglement of quantum emitters for room-temperature quantum technologies . PhotoniX 5 ,( 2024 ). http://doi.org/10.1186/s43074-024-00148-1 http://doi.org/10.1186/s43074-024-00148-1

S. Noda , M. Fujita , T. Asano , Spontaneous-emission control by photonic crystals and nanocavities . Nat. Photonics 1 , 449 - 458 ( 2007 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2007.141 http://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2007.141

Vučković, J. in Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics (eds Claude Fabre, Vahid Sandoghdar, Nicolas Treps, & Leticia F. Cugliandolo) (Oxford University Press, 2017).

A.W. Elshaari , W. Pernice , K. Srinivasan , O. Benson , V. Zwiller , Hybrid integrated quantum photonic circuits . Nat. Photonics 14 , 285 - 298 ( 2020 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-020-0609-x http://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-020-0609-x

R. Uppu , L. Midolo , X. Zhou , J. Carolan , P. Lodahl , Quantum-dot-based deterministic photon–emitter interfaces for scalable photonic quantum technology . Nat. Nanotechnol. 16 , 1308 - 1317 ( 2021 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-021-00965-6 http://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-021-00965-6

E. Pelucchi , G. Fagas , I. Aharonovich , D. Englund , E. Figueroa , Q. Gong , H. Hannes , J. Liu , C.-Y. Lu , N. Matsuda , J.-W. Pan , F. Schreck , F. Sciarrino , C. Silberhorn , J. Wang , K.D. Jöns , The potential and global outlook of integrated photonics for quantum technologies . Nat. Rev. Phys. 4 , 194 - 208 ( 2022 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-021-00398-z http://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-021-00398-z

N. Rotenberg , L. Kuipers , Mapping nanoscale light fields . Nat. Photonics 8 , 919 - 926 ( 2014 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.285 http://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2014.285

X. Chen , D. Hu , R. Mescall , G. You , D.N. Basov , Q. Dai , M. Liu , Modern scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy for advanced material research . Adv. Mater. 31 ,( 2019 ). http://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201804774 http://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201804774

R. Hillenbrand , Y. Abate , M. Liu , X. Chen , D.N. Basov , Visible-to-THz near-field nanoscopy . Nat. Rev. Mater. 10 , 285 - 310 ( 2025 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00761-3 http://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-024-00761-3

S.G. Stanciu , D.E. Tranca , G. Zampini , R. Hristu , G.A. Stanciu , X. Chen , M. Liu , H.A. Stenmark , L. Latterini , Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles . ACS Omega 7 , 11353 - 11362 ( 2022 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c00410 http://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c00410

S. Hasegawa , K. Imura , Three-dimensional visualization of chiral nano-optical field around gold nanoplates via scanning near-field optical microscopy . Nano Lett. 25 , 376 - 382 ( 2025 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c05151 http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c05151

C. Chicanne , T. David , R. Quidant , J.C. Weeber , Y. Lacroute , E. Bourillot , A. Dereux , G. Colas des Francs , C. Girard , Imaging the local density of states of optical corrals . Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 ,( 2002 ). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.097402 http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.097402

E.M. Purcell , Spontaneous emission probabilities at radio frequencies . Phys. Rev. 69 , 681 ( 1946 ).

R. Carminati , A. Caze , D. Cao , F. Peragut , V. Krachmalnicoff , R. Pierrat , Y. De Wilde , Electromagnetic density of states in complex plasmonic systems . Surf. Sci. Rep. 70 , 1 - 41 ( 2015 ). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfrep.2014.11.001 http://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfrep.2014.11.001

A. Karabchevsky , A. Mosayyebi , A.V. Kavokin , Tuning the chemiluminescence of a luminol flow using plasmonic nanoparticles . Light Sci. Appl. 5 , e16164 - e16164 ( 2016 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/lsa.2016.164 http://doi.org/10.1038/lsa.2016.164

N.G. Van Kampen , B.R.A. Nijboer , K. Schram , On the macroscopic theory of Van der Waals forces . Phys. Lett. A 26 , 307 - 308 ( 1968 ). http://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9601(68)90665-8 http://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9601(68)90665-8

J.-P. Mulet , K. Joulain , R. Carminati , J.-J. Greffet , Enhanced radiative heat transfer at nanometric distances . Microscale Thermophys. Eng. 6 , 209 - 222 ( 2002 ). http://doi.org/10.1080/10893950290053321 http://doi.org/10.1080/10893950290053321

A. Polman , M. Kociak , F.J. de García Abajo , Electron-beam spectroscopy for nanophotonics . Nat. Mater. 18 , 1158 - 1171 ( 2019 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0409-1 http://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0409-1

F.J. de García Abajo , M. Kociak , Probing the photonic local density of states with electron energy loss spectroscopy . Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 ,( 2008 ). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.106804 http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.106804

A. Hörl , G. Haberfehlner , A. Trügler , F.-P. Schmidt , U. Hohenester , G. Kothleitner , Tomographic imaging of the photonic environment of plasmonic nanoparticles . Nat. Commun. 8 ,( 2017 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00051-3 http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00051-3

R. Sapienza , T. Coenen , J. Renger , M. Kuttge , N.F. van Hulst , A. Polman , Deep-subwavelength imaging of the modal dispersion of light . Nat. Mater. 11 , 781 ( 2012 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3402 http://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3402

S.K. Sekatskii , V.S. Letokhov , Single fluorescence centers on the tips of crystal needles: first observation and prospects for application in scanning one-atom fluorescence microscopy . Appl. Phys. B 63 , 525 - 530 ( 1996 ). http://doi.org/10.1007/s003400050119 http://doi.org/10.1007/s003400050119

V. Sandoghdar , J. Mlynek , Prospects of apertureless SNOM with active probes . J. Opt. A Pure Appl. Opt. 1 , 523 - 530 ( 1999 ). http://doi.org/10.1088/1464-4258/1/4/319 http://doi.org/10.1088/1464-4258/1/4/319

J. Michaelis , C. Hettich , J. Mlynek , V. Sandoghdar , Optical microscopy using a single-molecule light source . Nature 405 , 325 - 328 ( 2000 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/35012545 http://doi.org/10.1038/35012545

S. Kuhn , C. Hettich , C. Schmitt , J.P.H. Poizat , V. Sandoghdar , Diamond colour centres as a nanoscopic light source for scanning near-field optical microscopy . J. Microsc. 202 , 2 - 6 ( 2001 ). http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2818.2001.00829.x http://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2818.2001.00829.x

A. Cuche , A. Drezet , Y. Sonnefraud , O. Faklaris , F. Treussart , J.F. Roch , S. Huant , Near-field optical microscopy with a nanodiamond-based single-photon tip . Opt. Express 17 , 19969 - 19980 ( 2009 ). http://doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.019969 http://doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.019969

A.W. Schell , P. Engel , J.F.M. Werra , C. Wolff , K. Busch , O. Benson , Scanning Single Quantum Emitter Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging: quantitative analysis of the local density of photonic states . Nano Lett. 14 , 2623 - 2627 ( 2014 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/nl500460c http://doi.org/10.1021/nl500460c

R. Beams , D. Smith , T.W. Johnson , S.H. Oh , L. Novotny , A.N. Vamivakas , Nanoscale fluorescence lifetime imaging of an optical antenna with a single diamond NV center . Nano Lett. 13 , 3807 - 3811 ( 2013 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/nl401791v http://doi.org/10.1021/nl401791v

E. Betzig , R.J. Chichester , Single molecules observed by near-field scanning optical microscopy . Science 262 , 1422 - 1425 ( 1993 ). http://doi.org/10.1126/science.262.5138.1422 http://doi.org/10.1126/science.262.5138.1422

A. Mohtashami , A.F. Koenderink , Suitability of nanodiamond nitrogen-vacancy centers for spontaneous emission control experiments . New J. Phys. 15 ,( 2013 ). http://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043017 http://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043017

A.P. Alivisatos , Semiconductor Clusters, Nanocrystals, and Quantum Dots . Science 271 , 933 ( 1996 ). http://doi.org/10.1126/science.271.5251.933 http://doi.org/10.1126/science.271.5251.933

W. Xu , X. Hou , Y. Meng , R. Meng , Z. Wang , H. Qin , X. Peng , X.-W. Chen , Deciphering charging status, absolute quantum efficiency, and absorption cross section of multicarrier states in single colloidal quantum dots . Nano Lett. 17 , 7487 - 7493 ( 2017 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03399 http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03399

J. Puthenpurayil , O.H. Cheng , T. Qiao , D. Rossi , D.H. Son , On the determination of absorption cross section of colloidal lead halide perovskite quantum dots . J. Chem. Phys. 151 ,( 2019 ). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.5126039 http://doi.org/10.1063/1.5126039

Y. Ebenstein , T. Mokari , U. Banin , Quantum-dot-functionalized scanning probes for fluorescence-energy-transfer-based microscopy . J. Phys. Chem. B 108 , 93 - 99 ( 2004 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/jp036135j http://doi.org/10.1021/jp036135j

N. Chevalier , M.J. Nasse , J.C. Woehl , P. Reiss , J. Bleuse , F. Chandezon , S. Huant , CdSe single-nanoparticle based active tips for near-field optical microscopy . Nanotechnology 16 , 613 - 618 ( 2005 ). http://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/16/4/047 http://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/16/4/047

K. Matsuzaki , S. Vassant , H.W. Liu , A. Dutschke , B. Hoffmann , X. Chen , S. Christiansen , M.R. Buck , J.A. Hollingsworth , S. Gotzinger , V. Sandoghdar , Strong plasmonic enhancement of biexciton emission: controlled coupling of a single quantum dot to a gold nanocone antenna . Sci. Rep. 7 ,( 2017 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/srep42307 http://doi.org/10.1038/srep42307

R. Jazi , T.P.L. Ung , P. Maso , G. Colas Des Francs , M. Nasilowski , B. Dubertret , J.P. Hermier , X. Quélin , S. Buil , Measuring the orientation of a single CdSe/CdS nanocrystal at the end of a near-field tip for the realization of a versatile active SNOM probe . Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 20 , 16444 - 16448 ( 2018 ). http://doi.org/10.1039/C8CP02147C http://doi.org/10.1039/C8CP02147C

C. Ropp , Z. Cummins , S. Nah , J.T. Fourkas , B. Shapiro , E. Waks , Nanoscale imaging and spontaneous emission control with a single nano-positioned quantum dot . Nat. Commun. 4 , 1447 ( 2013 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2477 http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2477

F. García-Santamaría , Y. Chen , J. Vela , R.D. Schaller , J.A. Hollingsworth , V.I. Klimov , Suppressed auger recombination in “giant” nanocrystals boosts optical gain performance . Nano Lett. 9 , 3482 - 3488 ( 2009 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/nl901681d http://doi.org/10.1021/nl901681d

P. Michler , A. Imamoglu , M.D. Mason , P.J. Carson , G.F. Strouse , S.K. Buratto , Quantum correlation among photons from a single quantum dot at room temperature . Nature 406 , 968 - 970 ( 2000 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/35023100 http://doi.org/10.1038/35023100

G. Nair , J. Zhao , M.G. Bawendi , Biexciton quantum yield of single semiconductor nanocrystals from photon statistics . Nano Lett. 11 , 1136 - 1140 ( 2011 ). http://doi.org/10.1021/nl104054t http://doi.org/10.1021/nl104054t

S.A. Empedocles , R. Neuhauser , M.G. Bawendi , Three-dimensional orientation measurements of symmetric single chromophores using polarization microscopy . Nature 399 , 126 - 130 ( 1999 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/20138 http://doi.org/10.1038/20138

P. Anger , P. Bharadwaj , L. Novotny , Enhancement and quenching of single-molecule fluorescence . Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 ,( 2006 ). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.113002 http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.113002

J. Tang , J. Xia , M. Fang , F. Bao , G. Cao , J. Shen , J. Evans , S. He , Selective far-field addressing of coupled quantum dots in a plasmonic nanocavity . Nat. Commun. 9 ,( 2018 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04077-z http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04077-z

Y. Meng , D. Huang , H. Li , X. Feng , F. Li , Q. Liang , T. Ma , J. Han , J. Tang , G. Chen , X.-W. Chen , Bright single-nanocrystal upconversion at sub 0.5 W cm−2 irradiance via coupling to single nanocavity mode . Nat. Photonics 17 , 73 - 81 ( 2023 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-022-01101-z http://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-022-01101-z

Q.M. Quan , P.B. Deotare , M. Loncar , Photonic crystal nanobeam cavity strongly coupled to the feeding waveguide . Appl. Phys. Lett. 96 ,( 2010 ). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.3429125 http://doi.org/10.1063/1.3429125

A.R. Clapp , I.L. Medintz , H. Mattoussi , Förster resonance energy transfer investigations using quantum-dot fluorophores . ChemPhysChem 7 , 47 - 57 ( 2006 ). http://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200500217 http://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200500217

H. Groß , J.M. Hamm , T. Tufarelli , O. Hess , B. Hecht , Near-field strong coupling of single quantum dots . Sci. Adv. 4 ,( 2018 ). http://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar4906 http://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar4906

Y.-H. Ouyang , H.-Y. Luan , Z.-W. Zhao , W.-Z. Mao , R.-M. Ma , Singular dielectric nanolaser with atomic-scale field localization . Nature 632 , 287 - 293 ( 2024 ). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07674-9 http://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07674-9

浏览量

Downloads

CSCD

文章被引用时，请邮件提醒。

Submit

关联资源

Far-field superresolution imaging via k-space superoscillation

Author Correction: Massively parallel and universal approximation of nonlinear functions using diffractive processors

Hidden multi-topological phases mediated by constrained inter-cell coupling

Achieving superresolution imaging via k-space superoscillation

Nonlinear nonlocal metasurfaces