Here, we designed
and synthesized alloyed heterostructures of CdSe
x
S1–x
nanoplatelets
(NPLs) using CdS coating in the lateral and vertical directions for
the achievement of highly tunable optical gain performance. By using
homogeneously alloyed CdSe
x
S1–x
core NPLs as a seed, we prepared CdSe
x
S1–x
/CdS core/crown
NPLs, where CdS crown region is extended only in the lateral direction.
With the sidewall passivation around inner CdSe
x
S1–x
cores, we achieved
enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield (PL-QY) (reaching 60%), together
with increased absorption cross-section and improved stability without
changing the emission spectrum of CdSe
x
S1–x
alloyed core NPLs. In addition,
we further extended the spectral tunability of these solution-processed
NPLs with the synthesis of CdSe
x
S1–x
/CdS core/shell NPLs. Depending
on the sulfur composition of the CdSe
x
S1–x
core and thickness of the
CdS shell, CdSe
x
S1–x
/CdS core/shell NPLs possessed highly tunable emission
characteristics within the spectral range of 560–650 nm. Finally,
we studied the optical gain performances of different heterostructures
of CdSe
x
S1–x
alloyed NPLs offering great advantages, including reduced
reabsorption and spectrally tunable optical gain range. Despite their
decreased PL-QY and reduced absorption cross-section upon increasing
the sulfur composition, CdSe
x
S1–x
based NPLs exhibit highly tunable amplified spontaneous
emission performance together with low gain thresholds down to ∼53
μJ/cm2.