The fluorescence of ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ doped in the shell of $\mathrm{CdS}/\mathrm{ZnS}$ core/shell nanocrystals at radially controlled position is used as a local probe of pressure in the nanocrystal shell. The redshift of the fluorescence with increasing shell thickness indicates a pressure of more than 4 GPa for 7.5 monolayers of ZnS. The radial dependence and magnitude of the pressure derived from the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ fluorescence shift are in good agreement with the spherically symmetric elastic continuum model and the 7% misfit between the core and the epitaxial shell.

• Received 31 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.265501