Influence of single dye molecules on temperature and time dependent optical properties of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots: Ensemble and single nanoassembly detection

► Ensemble and single assembly optical experiments for CdSe/ZnS QD-dye nanocomposites. ► Temperature lowering or dye attachment leads to a phase transition of capping layer. ► It changes the distribution and energy of surface traps and QD band edge emission. ► QD photodegradation in the course of time is enlarged by attached dye molecules. ► Phase transition has impact on QD core structure and exciton-phonon coupling.