Semiconductor nanocrystals offer a several potential benefits as active elements in the next-generation solar energy conversion technologies. Thin films, processed from solution, offer efficient light capture thanks to the nanocrystals’ high absorption cross section and confinement effects introduce the opportunity to prepare materials with rationally tailored size-dependent energy gaps. Among the various nanoscale semiconductors under investigation, lead salts and cadmium salts have drawn particular attention from the applied and fundamental research communities due to their exceptionally strong quantum confinement effects.
Our group is interested to measure charge transfer reactions between different ligands attached to the core of these nanocrystals. We have observed that depending on the nature of the ligand the properties of the quantum dot core can be tune to our benefit. However, a true understanding on how these mechanisms occurs have not been achieved so far.