Probing light-matter interactions at the nanoscale with a deterministically positioned single quantum dot

Single QDs are desirable probe objects for studying near-field optical interactions with photonic structures, however, they are often very difficult to manipulate due to their small sizes. Here, we describe a technique for the manipulation of individual colloidal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with nanometer accuracy along a two dimensional surface. A microfluidic approach is described which provides two-dimensional positioning of single QDs with nanoscale accuracy. In addition, we discuss the engineering of a water-based fluid that provides localization of QDs to within 100 nm of the channel surface. Through a combination of surface localization and in plane manipulation, a setup is described where single QDs can be utilized as single emitter probes for studying local light-matter interactions in a planar geometry.