The control of individual spins in semiconductor nanocrystals is an emerging scientific field which undoubtedly play an important role in the development of new spin-based technologies. Generation of individual spins via incorporation of magnetic ions into colloidal nanocrystals became a hot topic in recent years. These diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) nanocrystals are subject to a size confinement on photo-generated carriers, which markedly enhances the mutual carrier-dopant spin-exchange interaction, consequently leading to a pronounced modification of the host`s optical and magneto-optical properties.
Here we described the synthesis and characterization of DMS nanocrystals based on colloidal nanoplatelets, rods or spherical host semiconductor matrices, embedded with extremely low concentration of Mn+2 or Cu+ ions. This work includes host nanocrystals with a core/shell design (one semiconductor covered by another semiconductor) with dopant ions positioned either in the core or in the shell, using the layer-by-layer deposition. Thus, the work here discusses the influence of internal design on the magneto-optical properties of DMS colloidal nanocrystals. The research involved the use of magneto-photoluminescence (MPL) and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy. The MPL spectra recorded at various temperatures and strength of magnetic field revealed the generation of giant magnetization (~ 30 Tesla) and g-factor ( ~ -4) of the exciton upon doping. The ODMR spectra of those samples designated a resonance line with a distinguished sextet related to the hyperfine interaction between the photo-generated electron and the surrounding nuclear spins of the dopants. The ODMR explored, for the first time, a control of nuclear spins on the magneto-optical properties of DMS nanocrystals. Furthermore, a time resolved ODMR experiment also revealed a shortening of the spin coherence time with respect to estimations, due to the hyperfine interaction. The carrier-nuclear spin may occur either directly, or mediated via the carrier-dopant electron spin (the sp-d interaction).