Tuning electron transfer rates through molecular bridges in quantum dot sensitized oxides

Charge Transfer from Quantum-Confined 0D, 1D, and 2D Nanocrystals

The properties of colloidal quantum-confined semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), including zero-dimensional (0D) quantum dots, 1D nanorods, 2D nanoplatelets, and their heterostructures, can be tuned through their size, dimensionality, and material composition. In their photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications, a key step is to generate spatially separated and long-lived electrons and holes by interfacial charge transfer. These charge transfer properties have been extensively studied recently, which is the subject of this Review. The Review starts with a summary of the electronic structure and optical properties of 0D-2D nanocrystals, followed by the advances in wave function engineering, a novel way to control the spatial distribution of electrons and holes, through their size, dimension, and composition. It discusses the dependence of NC charge transfer on various parameters and the development of the Auger-assisted charge transfer model. Recent advances in understanding multiple exciton generation, decay, and dissociation are also discussed, with an emphasis on multiple carrier transfer. Finally, the applications of nanocrystal-based systems for photocatalysis are reviewed, focusing on the photodriven charge separation and recombination processes that dictate the function and performance of these materials. The Review ends with a summary and outlook of key remaining challenges and promising future directions in the field.

Aggregation of Charge Acceptors on Nanocrystal Surfaces Alters Rates of Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) interfaced with molecular ligands that function as charge and energy acceptors are an emerging platform for the design of light-harvesting, photon-upconverting, and photocatalytic materials. However, NC systems explored for these applications often feature high concentrations of bound acceptor ligands, which can lead to ligand-ligand interactions that may alter each system's ability to undergo charge and energy transfer. Here, we demonstrate that aggregation of acceptor ligands impacts the rate of photoinduced NC-to-ligand charge transfer between lead(II) sulfide (PbS) NCs and perylenediimide (PDI) electron acceptors. As the concentration of PDI acceptors is increased, we find the average electron transfer rate from PbS to PDI ligands decreases by nearly an order of magnitude. The electron transfer rate slowdown with increasing PDI concentration correlates strongly with the appearance of PDI aggregates in steady-state absorption spectra. Electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggest PDI aggregation slows the rate of electron transfer by reducing orbital overlap between PbS charge donors and PDI charge acceptors. While we find aggregation slows electron transfer in this system, the computational models we employ predict ligand aggregation could also be used to speed electron transfer by producing delocalized states that exhibit improved NC-molecule electronic coupling and energy alignment with NC conduction band states. Our results demonstrate that ligand aggregation can alter rates of photoinduced electron transfer between NCs and organic acceptor ligands and should be considered when designing hybrid NC:molecule systems for charge separation.

Electron Transfer at Quantum Dot–Metal Oxide Interfaces for Solar Energy Conversion

Electron transfer at a donor–acceptor quantum dot–metal oxide interface is a process fundamentally relevant to solar energy conversion architectures as, e.g., sensitized solar cells and solar fuels schemes. As kinetic competition at these technologically relevant interfaces largely determines device performance, this Review surveys several aspects linking electron transfer dynamics and device efficiency; this correlation is done for systems aiming for efficiencies up to and above the ∼33% efficiency limit set by Shockley and Queisser for single gap devices. Furthermore, we critically comment on common pitfalls associated with the interpretation of kinetic data obtained from current methodologies and experimental approaches, and finally, we highlight works that, to our judgment, have contributed to a better understanding of the fundamentals governing electron transfer at quantum dot–metal oxide interfaces.

Using Spectator Ligands to Enhance Nanocrystal-to-Molecule Electron Transfer

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts. However, NCs are often functionalized with complex ligand shells that contain not only charge acceptors but also other "spectator ligands" that control NC solubility and affinity for target reactants. Here, we show that spectator ligands are not passive observers of photoinduced charge transfer but rather play an active role in this process. We find the rate of electron transfer from quantum-confined PbS NCs to perylenediimide acceptors can be varied by over a factor of 4 simply by coordinating cinnamate ligands with distinct dipole moments to NC surfaces. Theoretical calculations indicate this rate variation stems from both ligand-induced changes in the free energy for charge transfer and electrostatic interactions that alter perylenediimide electron acceptor orientation on NC surfaces. Our work shows NC-to-molecule charge transfer can be fine-tuned through ligand shell design, giving researchers an additional handle for enhancing NC photocatalysis.

Tunable Performance of Quantum Dot-MoS2 Hybrid Photodetectors via Interface Engineering

Heterostructures of quantum dots (QDs) and two-dimensional (2D) materials show promising potential for photodetection applications owing to their combination of high optical absorption and good in-plane carrier mobility. In this work, the performance of QD-2D photodetectors is tuned by band engineering. Devices are fabricated by coating MoS₂ nanosheets with InP QDs, type-I core-shell InP/ZnS QDs, and type-II core-shell InP/CdS QDs. Comparative spectroscopic and photoelectric studies of different hybrids show that the energy band alignment and shell thickness can influence the efficiency of charge transfer (CT), energy transfer (ET), and defect-related processes between QDs and MoS₂. Benefiting from efficient CT between the QDs and MoS₂, a significant enhancement of responsivity and detectivity is observed in thick-shell InP/CdS QD-MoS₂ devices. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using core-shell QDs for regulating the ET and CT efficiency in heterostructures and highlight the importance of interface band design in QD-2D and other low-dimensional photodetectors.

Multifaceted aspects of charge transfer

Charge transfer and charge transport are by far among the most important processes for sustaining life on Earth and for making our modern ways of living possible. Involving multiple electron-transfer steps, photosynthesis and cellular respiration have been principally responsible for managing the energy flow in the biosphere of our planet since the Great Oxygen Event. It is impossible to imagine living organisms without charge transport mediated by ion channels, or electron and proton transfer mediated by redox enzymes. Concurrently, transfer and transport of electrons and holes drive the functionalities of electronic and photonic devices that are intricate for our lives. While fueling advances in engineering, charge-transfer science has established itself as an important independent field, originating from physical chemistry and chemical physics, focusing on paradigms from biology, and gaining momentum from solar-energy research. Here, we review the fundamental concepts of charge transfer, and outline its core role in a broad range of unrelated fields, such as medicine, environmental science, catalysis, electronics and photonics. The ubiquitous nature of dipoles, for example, sets demands on deepening the understanding of how localized electric fields affect charge transfer. Charge-transfer electrets, thus, prove important for advancing the field and for interfacing fundamental science with engineering. Synergy between the vastly different aspects of charge-transfer science sets the stage for the broad global impacts that the advances in this field have.

Size-dependent electron transfer from atomically defined nanographenes to metal oxide nanoparticles

Atomically defined nanographenes (NGs) feature size-dependent energy gaps induced by, and tuneable through, quantum confinement. Their energy-tunability and robustness make NGs appealing candidates as active elements in sensitized geometries, where NGs functionalize a metal oxide (MO) film with large-area-to-volume ratio. Despite the prominent relevance of NG/MO interfaces for developing novel architectures for solar energy conversion, to date, little information is available regarding the fundamentals of electron transfer (ET) processes taking place from NG donors to MO acceptors. Here, we analyze the interplay between the size of atomically precise NGs and ET dynamics at NG/MO interfaces. We observe that as the size of NG decreases, ET from the NG donating state to the MO acceptor state speeds up. This dependence can be rationalized from variations in the donor-to-acceptor interfacial overpotential as the NG size (HOMO-LUMO gap) is reduced (increased), and can be rationalized within the framework of Marcus ET theory.

Aspect Ratio-Dependent Charge Carrier Dynamics in Matchstick-like Ag2S-ZnS Nanorods for Solar Hydrogen Generation

Matchstick-like Ag₂S-ZnS nanorods (NRs) with a tunable aspect ratio (AR) were synthesized using one-pot thermal decomposition. The ultraviolet photoelectron spectra and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra of the Ag₂S-ZnS NRs were collected to study their electronic band structures and charge carrier dynamics. The energy difference (ΔE) at the interface between the ZnS stem and Ag₂S tip was altered as the AR of Ag₂S-ZnS NRs increased from 11.9 to 18.4, resulting in an enlarged driving force for the delocalized electrons along the conduction band of ZnS being injected into that of Ag₂S. The interfacial electron transfer rate constant (k_et) from ZnS to Ag₂S could be enhanced by ∼2 orders of magnitude from 5.27 × 10⁶ to 3.24 × 10⁸ s^-1, leading to a significant improvement in the efficiency of solar hydrogen generation. This investigation provides new physical insights into the manipulation of charge carrier dynamics by means of AR adjustment in semiconductor nanoheterostructures for photoelectric conversions.

Electron Transfer from Semiconductor Nanocrystals to Redox Enzymes

This review summarizes progress in understanding electron transfer from photoexcited nanocrystals to redox enzymes. The combination of the light-harvesting properties of nanocrystals and the catalytic properties of redox enzymes has emerged as a versatile platform to drive a variety of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with light. Transfer of a photoexcited charge from a nanocrystal to an enzyme is a critical first step for these reactions. This process has been studied in depth in systems that combine Cd-chalcogenide nanocrystals with hydrogenases. The two components can be assembled in close proximity to enable direct interfacial electron transfer or integrated with redox mediators to transport charges. Time-resolved spectroscopy and kinetic modeling have been used to measure the rates and efficiencies of the electron transfer. Electron transfer has been described within the framework of Marcus theory, providing insights into the factors that can be used to control the photochemical activity of these biohybrid systems. The range of potential applications and reactions that can be achieved using nanocrystal-enzyme systems is expanding, and numerous fundamental and practical questions remain to be addressed.

Photoexcited carrier dynamics in colloidal quantum dot solar cells: insights into individual quantum dots, quantum dot solid films and devices

The certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) record of colloidal quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) has considerably improved from below 4% to 16.6% in the last few years. However, the record PCE value of QDSCs is still substantially lower than the theoretical efficiency. So far, there have been several reviews on recent and significant achievements in QDSCs, but reviews on photoexcited carrier dynamics in QDSCs are scarce. The photovoltaic performances of QDSCs are still limited by the photovoltage, photocurrent and fill factor that are mainly determined by the photoexcited carrier dynamics, including carrier (or exciton) generation, carrier extraction or transfer, and the carrier recombination process, in the devices. In this review, the photoexcited carrier dynamics in the whole QDSCs, originating from individual quantum dots (QDs) to the entire device as well as the characterization methods used for analyzing the photoexcited carrier dynamics are summarized and discussed. The recent research including photoexcited multiple exciton generation (MEG), hot electron extraction, and carrier transfer between adjacent QDs, as well as carrier injection and recombination at each interface of QDSCs are discussed in detail herein. The influence of photoexcited carrier dynamics on the physiochemical properties of QDs and photovoltaic performances of QDSC devices is also discussed.

Pressure-Induced Tunable Electron Transfer and Auger Recombination Rates in CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot-Anthraquinone Complexes

Electron transfer (ET) and Auger recombination (AR) processes in quantum dots (QDs) are key mechanisms for the advance of QD-based devices. However, it still remains a challenge to promote ET and suppress AR simultaneously. Here, we use in situ high-pressure ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to explore the impact of pressure on the ET between CdSe/ZnS and anthraquinone (AQ) and AR dissolved in cyclohexane. Remarkably, under compression, ET lifetimes are shorten, while suppression of AR lifetimes is present. The promotion of ET is attributed to the shortened distance between CdSe/ZnS and AQ induced by pressure. We rationalize that for the AR suppression, pressure may enhance the formation of an alloy layer at the core/shell interface. These findings indicate that compression is an effective approach to promote ET and suppress AR simultaneously. This study highlights a brand-new approach for modulating ET and AR and provides new routes toward QD-based applications.

Chemisorption of Atomically Precise 42-Carbon Graphene Quantum Dots on Metal Oxide Films Greatly Accelerates Interfacial Electron Transfer

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are emerging as environmentally friendly, low-cost, and highly tunable building blocks in solar energy conversion architectures, such as solar (fuel) cells. Specifically, GQDs constitute a promising alternative for organometallic dyes in sensitized oxide systems. Current sensitized solar cells employing atomically precise GQDs are based on physisorbed sensitizers, with typically limited efficiencies. Chemisorption has been pointed out as a solution to boost photoconversion efficiencies, by allowing improved control over sensitizer surface coverage and sensitizer-oxide coupling strength. Here, employing time-resolved THz spectroscopy, we demonstrate that chemisorption of atomically precise C42-GQDs (hexa- peri-hexabenzocoronene derivatives consisting of 42 sp² carbon atoms) onto mesoporous metal oxides, enabled by their functionalization with a carboxylate group, enhances electron transfer (ET) rates by almost 2 orders of magnitude when compared with physisorbed sensitizers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, absorption spectroscopy and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveal that the enhanced ET rates can be traced to stronger donor-acceptor coupling strength enabled by chemisorption.

Construction of Highly Hierarchical Layered Structure Consisting of Titanate Nanosheets, Tungstate Nanosheets, Ru(bpy)32+, and Pt(terpy) for Vectorial Photoinduced Z-Scheme Electron Transfer

To imitate the precisely ordered structure of the photoantennas and electron mediators in the natural photosynthesis system, we have constructed the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-intercalated alternate-layered structure of titanate nanosheets and tungstate nanosheets via thiol-ene click reaction. Before nanosheet stacking, Pt(terpy) was immobilized at the edge of the titanate nanosheets. The visible-light-induced vectorial Z-scheme electron transfer reaction from the valence band of tungstate to the conduction band of titanate via the photoexcited Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ was demonstrated by the following two evidences: (1) From the results of the fluorescence decay of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, the rate of the forward electron transfer from the photoexcited Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ to the conduction band of titanate was estimated as 1.16 × 10⁸ s^-1, which was 10 times faster than the backward electron transfer from the photoexcited Ru(bpy)₃ to the conduction band of tungstate (1.02 × 10⁷ s^-1) due to a localization of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ on the titanate nanosheets. (2) We observed the decrease of the electrons accumulated in the conduction band of the tungstate induced by photoexcitation of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, demonstrating the forward electron transfer from the conduction band of tugnstate to the vacant highest occupied molecular orbital level of the photoexcitation Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Finally, H₂ gas was produced from the water dispersion of the alternate-layered structure under visible light irradiation, suggesting that the electrons getting to the conduction band of the titanate were transferred to the Pt(terpy) placed at the edge of the nanosheets, and reduced water to dihydrogen. Herein, n-octylamine species at the interlayer space played a role as hole scavenger; in other words, these molecules were oxidized by the hole in the conduction band of the tungstate nanosheets.

Efficient Hot Electron Transfer in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Mesoporous Oxides at Room Temperature

Hot carrier cooling processes represent one of the major efficiency losses in solar energy conversion. Losses associated with cooling can in principle be circumvented if hot carrier extraction toward selective contacts is faster than hot carrier cooling in the absorber (in so-called hot carrier solar cells). Previous work has demonstrated the possibility of hot electron extraction in quantum dot (QD)-sensitized systems, in particular, at low temperatures. Here we demonstrate a room-temperature hot electron transfer (HET) with up to unity quantum efficiency in strongly coupled PbS quantum dot-sensitized mesoporous SnO₂. We show that the HET efficiency is determined by a kinetic competition between HET rate ( K_HET) and the thermalization rate ( K_TH) in the dots. K_HET can be modulated by changing the excitation photon energy; K_TH can be modified through the lattice temperature. DFT calculations demonstrate that the HET rate and efficiency are primarily determined by the density of the state (DoS) of QD and oxide. Our results provide not only a new way to achieve efficient hot electron transfer at room temperature but also new insights on the mechanism of HET and the means to control it.

The electron injection rate in CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cells: from a bifunctional linker and zinc oxide morphology

Herein, we have investigated the effect of both the bifunctional linker (L1, L2, L3, and L4) and ZnO morphology (porous nanoparticles (NPs), nanowires (NWs), and nanotubes (NTs-A and NTs-Z)) on the electron injection in CdSe QD sensitized solar cells by first-principles simulation. Via calculating the partitioned interfaces formed by different components (linker/QDs and ZnO/linker), we found that the electronic states of QDs and every ZnO substrate are insensitive to any linker, while the frontier orbitals of L1-L4 (with increased delocalization) manifest a systematical negative-shift. Because of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of L1 compared to its counterparts aligned in the region of the virtual states of QDs or the substrate with a high density of states, it always yields a stronger electronic coupling with QDs and varied substrates. After characterization of the complete ZnO/linker/QD system, we found that the electron injection time (τ) vastly depends on both the linker and substrate. On the one hand, L1 bridged QDs and every substrate always achieve the shortest τ compared to their counterpart associated cases. On the other hand, NW supported systems always yield the shortest τ no matter what the linker is. Overall, the NW/L1/QD system achieves the fastest injection by ∼160 fs. This essentially stems from the shortest molecular length of L1 decreasing the distance between QDs and the substrate, subsequently improving the interfacial coupling. Meanwhile, the NW supported cases generate the less sensitive virtual states for both the QDs and NWs, ensuring a less variable interfacial coupling. These facts combined can provide understanding of the effects contributed from the linker and the oxide semiconductor morphology on charge transfer with the aim of choosing an appropriate component with fast directional electron injection.

Electron Transfer from Bi-Isonicotinic Acid Emerges upon Photodegradation of N3-Sensitized TiO2 Electrodes

The long-term stability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is determined to a large extent by the photodegradation of their sensitizers. Understanding the mechanism of light-induced decomposition of dyes sensitizing a mesoporous oxide matrix may therefore contribute to solutions to increase the life span of DSSCs. Here, we investigate, using ultrafast terahertz photoconductivity measurements, the evolution of interfacial electron-transfer (ET) dynamics in Ru(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)₂(NCS)₂ (N3) dye-sensitized mesoporous TiO₂ electrodes upon dye photodegradation. Under inert environment, interfacial ET dynamics do not change over time, indicating that the dye is stable and photodegradation is absent; the associated ET dynamics are characterized by a sub-100 fs rise of the photoconductivity, followed by long-lived (≫1 ns) electrons in the oxide electrode. When the N3-TiO₂ sample is exposed to air under identical illumination conditions, dye photodegradation is evident from the disappearance of the optical absorption associated with the dye. Remarkably, approximately half of the sub-100 fs ET is observed to still occur but is followed by very rapid (∼10 ps) electron-hole recombination. Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared, and terahertz photoconductivity analyses reveal that the photodegraded ET signal originates from the N3 dye photodegradation product as bi-isonicotinic acid (4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine), which remains bonded to the TiO₂ surface via either bidentate chelation or bridging-type geometry.

Carrier relaxation dynamics in type-II ZnO/CdSe quantum dot heterostructures

Semiconductor heterostructures with type-II band alignment are well known for their engineering property of efficient charge separation in photogenerated carriers. Herein, type-II CdSe/ZnO core/shell quantum dot heterostructures with CdSe shells of different thicknesses have been synthesized and a study of carrier dynamics is carried out using femtosecond transient absorption and picosecond emission spectroscopy. Carrier lifetime measurements by transient emission spectroscopy have revealed reduced electron-hole overlap in the type-II localization regime of ZnO/CdSe heterostructures. Femtosecond transient absorption studies have revealed hot electron transfer from CdSe shell to ZnO core prior to electron cooling in the CdSe shell. In addition, a surface channel for the hole cooling process has been identified in the transient absorption measurements. Effects of carrier trapping at interfacial defect states and type-II localization on carrier recombination have been recognized in our transient absorption and emission studies of ZnO/CdSe QDs heterostructure.

Boosting Biexciton Collection Efficiency at Quantum Dot-Oxide Interfaces by Hole Localization at the Quantum Dot Shell

Harvesting multiexcitons from semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) has been proposed as a path toward photovoltaic efficiencies beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit. Although multiexciton generation efficiencies have been quantified extensively in QD structures, the challenge of actually collecting multiple excitons at electrodes-a prerequisite for high-efficiency solar cell devices-has received less attention. Here, we demonstrate that multiexciton collection (MEC) at the PbS QD/mesoporous SnO₂ interface can be boosted 5-fold from ∼15 to reach ∼80% quantum yield, by partial localization of holes in a QD molecular capping shell. The resulting weakened Coulombic interactions give rise to reduced Auger recombination rates within the molecularly capped QDs, so that biexciton Auger relaxation, competing with MEC, is strongly suppressed. These results not only highlight the importance of surface chemistry and energetics at QD/ligand interfaces for multiexciton extraction but also provide clear design principles for realizing the benefits of MEG in sensitized systems exploited in solar cells and fuel geometries.

Inorganic Ligand Thiosulfate-Capped Quantum Dots for Efficient Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

The insulating nature of organic ligands containing long hydrocarbon tails brings forward serious limitations for presynthesized quantum dots (QDs) in photovoltaic applications. Replacing the initial organic hydrocarbon chain ligands with simple, cheap, and small inorganic ligands is regarded as an efficient strategy for improving the performance of the resulting photovoltaic devices. Herein, thiosulfate (S₂O₃^2-), and sulfide (S^2-) were employed as ligand-exchange reagents to get access to the inorganic ligand S₂O₃^2-- and S^2--capped CdSe QDs. The obtained inorganic ligand-capped QDs, together with the initial oleylamine-capped QDs, were used as light-absorbing materials in the construction of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Photovoltaic results indicate that thiosulfate-capped QDs give excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.11% under the illumination of full one sun, which is remarkably higher than those of sulfide- (3.36%) and OAm-capped QDs (0.84%) and is comparable to the state-of-the-art value based on mercaptocarboxylic acid capped QDs. Photoluminescence (PL) decay characterization demonstrates that thiosulfate-based QDSCs have a much-faster electron injection rate from QD to TiO₂ substrate in comparison with those of sulfide- and OAm-based QDSCs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate that higher charge-recombination resistance between potoanode and eletrolyte interfaces were observed in the thiosulfate-based cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of thiosulfate-capped QDs in the fabrication of efficient QDSCs. This will lend a new perspective to boosting the performance of QDSCs furthermore.

Dipolar Molecular Capping in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Oxides: Fermi Level Pinning Precludes Tuning Donor-Acceptor Energetics

Reducing the donor-acceptor excess energy (ΔG_ET) associated with electron transfer (ET) across quantum dot (QD)/oxide interfaces can boost photoconversion efficiencies in sensitized solar cell and fuel architectures. One proposed path for engineering ΔG_ET losses at interfaces refers to the tuning of sensitizer workfunction by exploiting QD dipolar molecular capping treatments. However, the change in workfunction per debye in QD solids has been reported to be ∼20-fold larger when compared to the effect achieved in QD-sensitized architectures. The origin behind the modest workfunction tunability in QD-sensitized oxides remains unclear. Here, we investigate the interplay between QD dipolar molecular capping, interfacial QD-oxide ET rates, and QD workfunction in PbS QD/SnO₂-sensitized interfaces. We find that interfacial QD-to-oxide ET is invariant to both the nature and strength of the specific QD dipolar capping treatment. Photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that the resolved invariance in ET rates is the result of a lack of QD workfunction (and hence ΔG_ET) tuning, despite effective molecular dipolar capping. We therefore conclude that Fermi level pinning precludes tuning donor-acceptor energetics by dipolar molecular capping in strongly coupled quantum dot-sensitized oxides.

Effects of the capping ligands, linkers and oxide surface on the electron injection mechanism of copper sulfide quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

QDSCs are an effective alternative to fossil fuels. However, it is difficult to differentiate the effect of each component in optimization. DFT calculations are combined with a bottom-up approach to differentiate the effect of each component on the electronic structure and absorption spectra.

Electron Transfer in Nanoparticle Dyads Assembled on a Colloidal Template

This work shows how to create covalently bound nanoparticle dyad assemblies on a colloidal template and studies photoinduced charge transfer in them. New results are reported for how the electron-transfer rate changes with the inter-nanoparticle distance and the energy band offset of the nanoparticles (reaction Gibbs energy). The experimental findings show that the distance dependence is consistent with an electron tunneling mechanism. The dependence of the rate on the energy band offset is found to be consistent with Marcus theory, as long as one performs a sum over final electronic states. These results indicate that our understanding of electron transfer in molecular donor-bridge-acceptor assemblies can be translated to describe nanoparticle-bridge-nanoparticle assemblies.

Aminoalkanoic Acids as Alternatives to Mercaptoalkanoic Acids for the Linker-Assisted Attachment of Quantum Dots to TiO2

Linear aminoalkanoic acids (AAAs) and mercaptoalkanoic acids (MAAs) were characterized as bifunctional ligands to tether CdSe QDs to nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films and to mediate excited-state electron transfer (ET) from the QDs to TiO2 nanoparticles. The adsorption of 12-aminododecanoic acid (ADA) and 12-mercaptododecanoic acid (ADA) to TiO2 followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface adduct formation constants (Kad) were ∼10(4) M(-1); saturation amounts of the ligands per projected surface area of TiO2 (Γ0) were ∼10(-7) mol cm(-2). Both Kad and Γ0 differed by 20% or less for the two linkers. CdSe QDs adhered to ADA- and MDA-functionalized TiO2 films; data were well modeled by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and Langmuir kinetics. For ADA- and MDA-mediated assembly values of Kad were (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10(6) and (2.4 ± 0.4) × 10(6) M(-1), values of Γ0 were (1.6 ± 0.3) × 10(-9) and (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10(-9) mol cm(-2), and rate constants were (14 ± 5) and (60 ± 20) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Thus, the thermodynamics and kinetics of linker-assisted assembly were slightly more favorable for MDA than for ADA. Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy revealed that electrons were transferred from both band-edge and surface states of CdSe QDs to TiO2 with rate constants (ket) of ∼10(7) s(-1). ET was approximately twice as fast through thiol-bearing linker 4-mercaptobutyric acid (MBA) as through amine-bearing linker 4-aminobutyric acid (ABA). Photoexcited QDs transferred holes to adsorbed MBA. In contrast, ABA did not scavenge photogenerated holes from CdSe QDs, which maximized the separation of charges following ET. Additionally, ABA shifted electron-trapping surface states to higher energies, minimizing the loss of potential energy of electrons prior to ET. These trade-offs involving the kinetics and thermodynamics of linker-assisted assembly; the driving force, rate constant, and efficiency of ET; and the extent of photoinduced charge separation can inform the selection bifunctional ligands to tether QDs to surfaces.

Electronic Processes within Quantum Dot-Molecule Complexes

The subject of this review is the colloidal quantum dot (QD) and specifically the interaction of the QD with proximate molecules. It covers various functions of these molecules, including (i) ligands for the QDs, coupled electronically or vibrationally to localized surface states or to the delocalized states of the QD core, (ii) energy or electron donors or acceptors for the QDs, and (iii) structural components of QD assemblies that dictate QD-QD or QD-molecule interactions. Research on interactions of ligands with colloidal QDs has revealed that ligands determine not only the excited state dynamics of the QD but also, in some cases, its ground state electronic structure. Specifically, the article discusses (i) measurement of the electronic structure of colloidal QDs and the influence of their surface chemistry, in particular, dipolar ligands and exciton-delocalizing ligands, on their electronic energies; (ii) the role of molecules in interfacial electron and energy transfer processes involving QDs, including electron-to-vibrational energy transfer and the use of the ligand shell of a QD as a semipermeable membrane that gates its redox activity; and (iii) a particular application of colloidal QDs, photoredox catalysis, which exploits the combination of the electronic structure of the QD core and the chemistry at its surface to use the energy of the QD excited state to drive chemical reactions.

Charge Transfer Dynamics from Photoexcited Semiconductor Quantum Dots

Understanding photoinduced charge transfer from nanomaterials is essential to the many applications of these materials. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding charge transfer from quantum dots (QDs), an ideal model system for investigating fundamental charge transfer properties of low-dimensional quantum-confined nanomaterials. We first discuss charge transfer from QDs to weakly coupled acceptors within the framework of Marcus nonadiabatic electron transfer (ET) theory, focusing on the dependence of ET rates on reorganization energy, electronic coupling, and driving force. Because of the strong electron-hole interaction, we show that ET from QDs should be described by the Auger-assisted ET model, which is significantly different from ET between molecules or from bulk semiconductor electrodes. For strongly quantum-confined QDs on semiconductor surfaces, the coupling can fall within the strong coupling limit, in which case the donor-acceptor interaction and ET properties can be described by the Newns-Anderson model of chemisorption. We also briefly discuss recent progress in controlling charge transfer properties in quantum-confined nanoheterostructures through wavefunction engineering and multiple exciton dissociation. Finally, we identify a few key areas for further research.

Controlling charge separation and recombination by chemical design in donor–acceptor dyads

Conjugated donor–acceptor block co-oligomers that self-organize into D–A mesomorphic arrays have raised increasing interest due to their potential applications in organic solar cells.

SnS4(4-), SbS4(3-), and AsS3(3-) Metal Chalcogenide Surface Ligands: Couplings to Quantum Dots, Electron Transfers, and All-Inorganic Multilayered Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

Three inorganic capping ligands (ICLs) for quantum dots (QDs), SnS4(4-), SbS4(3-) and AsS3(3-), were synthesized and the energy levels determined. Proximity between the ICL LUMO and QD conduction level governed the electronic couplings such as absorption shift upon ligand exchange, and electron transfer rate to TiO2. QD-sensitized solar cells were fabricated, using the ICL-QDs and also using QD multilayers layer-by-layer assembled by bridging coordinations, and studied as a function of the ICL ligand and the number of QD layers.

Increased Quantum Dot Loading by pH Control Reduces Interfacial Recombination in Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

The power conversion efficiency of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) hinges on interfacial charge transfer. Increasing quantum dot (QD) loading on the TiO2 anode has been proposed as a means to block recombination of electrons in the TiO2 to the hole transport material; however, it is not known whether a corresponding increase in QD-mediated recombination processes might lead to an overall higher rate of recombination. In this work, a 3-fold increase in PbS QD loading was achieved by the addition of an aqueous base to negatively charge the TiO2 surface during Pb cation deposition. Increased QD loading improved QDSSC device efficiencies through both increased light absorption and an overall reduction in recombination. Unexpectedly, we also found increased QD size had the detrimental effect of increasing recombination. Kinetic modeling of the effect of QD size on interfacial charge transfer processes provided qualitative agreement with the observed variation in recombination lifetimes. These results demonstrate a robust method of improving QD loading, identify the specific mechanisms by which increased QD deposition impacts device performance, and provide a framework for future efforts optimizing the device architecture of QDSSCs.

Boosting power conversion efficiencies of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells beyond 8% by recombination control

At present, quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) still exhibit moderate power conversion efficiency (with record efficiency of 6-7%), limited primarily by charge recombination. Therefore, suppressing recombination processes is a mandatory requirement to boost the performance of QDSCs. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of a novel sequential inorganic ZnS/SiO2 double layer treatment onto the QD-sensitized photoanode for strongly inhibiting interfacial recombination processes in QDSCs while providing improved cell stability. Theoretical modeling and impedance spectroscopy reveal that the combined ZnS/SiO2 treatment reduces interfacial recombination and increases charge collection efficiency when compared with conventional ZnS treatment alone. In line with those results, subpicosecond THz spectroscopy demonstrates that while QD to TiO2 electron-transfer rates and yields are insensitive to inorganic photoanode overcoating, back recombination at the oxide surface is strongly suppressed by subsequent inorganic treatments. By exploiting this approach, CdSe(x)Te(1-x) QDSCs exhibit a certified record efficiency of 8.21% (8.55% for a champion cell), an improvement of 20% over the previous record high efficiency of 6.8%, together with an additional beneficial effect of improved cell stability.

Interplay between structure, stoichiometry, and electron transfer dynamics in SILAR-based quantum dot-sensitized oxides

We quantify the rate and efficiency of picosecond electron transfer (ET) from PbS nanocrystals, grown by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), into a mesoporous SnO2 support. Successive SILAR deposition steps allow for stoichiometry- and size-variation of the QDs, characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Whereas for sulfur-rich (p-type) QD surfaces substantial electron trapping at the QD surface occurs, for lead-rich (n-type) QD surfaces, the QD trapping channel is suppressed and the ET efficiency is boosted. The ET efficiency increase achieved by lead-rich QD surfaces is found to be QD-size dependent, increasing linearly with QD surface area. On the other hand, ET rates are found to be independent of both QD size and surface stoichiometry, suggesting that the donor-acceptor energetics (constituting the driving force for ET) are fixed due to Fermi level pinning at the QD/oxide interface. Implications of our results for QD-sensitized solar cell design are discussed.

Engineering the interfaces of ITO@Cu2S nanowire arrays toward efficient and stable counter electrodes for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Among the issues that restrict the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs), insufficient catalytic activity and stability of counter electrodes (CEs) are critical but challenging ones. The state-of-the-art Cu/Cu2S CEs still suffer from mechanical instability and uncertainty due to the reaction of copper and electrolyte. Herein, ITO@Cu2S core-shell nanowire arrays were developed to fabricate CEs for QDSSCs, which have no such issues in Cu/Cu2S CEs. These nanowire arrays exhibited small charge transfer resistance and sheet resistance, and provided more active catalytic sites and easy accessibility for electrolyte due to the three-dimensional structure upon use as CEs. More interestingly, it was found that the interface of ITO/Cu2S significantly affected the performance of ITO@Cu2S nanowire array CEs. By varying synthetic methods, a series of ITO@Cu2S nanowire arrays were prepared to investigate the influence of ITO/Cu2S interface on their performance. The results showed that ITO@Cu2S nanowire array CEs with a continuous Cu2S nanocrystal shell fabricated via an improved cation exchange route exhibited excellent and thickness-dependent performance. The PCE of corresponding QDSSCs increased by 11.6 and 16.5% compared to that with the discrete Cu2S nanocrystal and the classic Cu/Cu2S CE, respectively, indicating its promising potential as a new type of CE for QDSSCs.

Minimizing Electron-Hole Recombination on TiO2 Sensitized with PbSe Quantum Dots: Time-Domain Ab Initio Analysis

TiO2 sensitized with quantum dots (QDs) gives efficient photovoltaic and photocatalytic systems due to high stability and large absorption cross sections of QDs and rapid photoinduced charge separation at the interface. The yields of the light-induced processes are limited by electron-hole recombination that also occurs at the interface. We combine ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics with analytic theory to investigate the experimentally studied charge recombination at the PbSe QD-TiO2 interface. The time-domain atomistic simulation directly mimics the laser experiment and generates important details of the recombination mechanism. The process occurs due to coupling of the electronic subsystem to polar optical modes of the TiO2 surface. The inelastic electron-phonon scattering happens on a picosecond time scale, while the elastic scattering takes 40 fs. Counter to expectations, the donor-acceptor bonding strengthens at an elevated temperature. An analytic theory extends the simulation results to larger QDs and longer QD-TiO2 bridges. It shows that the electron-hole recombination rate decreases significantly for longer bridges and larger dots and that the main effect arises due to reduced donor-acceptor coupling rather than changes in the donor-acceptor energy gap. The study indicates that by varying QD size or ligands one can reduce charge losses while still maintaining efficient charge separation, providing design principles for optimizing solar cell design and increasing photon-to-electron conversion efficiencies.

Surface engineering of ZnO nanostructures for semiconductor-sensitized solar cells

Semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSCs) are emerging as promising devices for achieving efficient and low-cost solar-energy conversion. The recent progress in the development of ZnO-nanostructure-based SSCs is reviewed here, and the key issues for their efficiency improvement, such as enhancing light harvesting and increasing carrier generation, separation, and collection, are highlighted from aspects of surface-engineering techniques. The impact of other factors such as electrolyte and counter electrodes on the photovoltaic performance is also addressed. The current challenges and perspectives for the further advance of ZnO-based SSCs are discussed.

Electrochemical control over photoinduced electron transfer and trapping in CdSe-CdTe quantum-dot solids

Understanding and controlling charge transfer between different kinds of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) is important for devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells and for thermoelectric applications. Here we study photoinduced electron transfer between CdTe and CdSe QDs in a QD film. We find that very efficient electron trapping in CdTe QDs obstructs electron transfer to CdSe QDs under most conditions. Only the use of thiol ligands results in somewhat slower electron trapping; in this case the competition between trapping and electron transfer results in a small fraction of electrons being transferred to CdSe. However, we demonstrate that electron trapping can be controlled and even avoided altogether by using the unique combination of electrochemistry and transient absorption spectroscopy. When the Fermi level is raised electrochemically, traps are filled with electrons and electron transfer from CdTe to CdSe QDs occurs with unity efficiency. These results show the great importance of knowing and controlling the Fermi level in QD films and open up the possibility of studying the density of trap states in QD films as well as the systematic investigation of the intrinsic electron transfer rates in donor-acceptor films.

Orbital Topology Controlling Charge Injection in Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

Quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells are emerging as a promising development of dye-sensitized solar cells, where photostable semiconductor quantum dots replace molecular dyes. Upon photoexcitation of a quantum dot, an electron is transferred to a high-band-gap metal oxide. Swift electron transfer is crucial to ensure a high overall efficiency of the solar cell. Using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy, we find the rate of electron transfer to be surprisingly sensitive to the chemical structure of the linker molecules that attach the quantum dots to the metal oxide. A rectangular barrier model is unable to capture the observed variation. Applying bridge-mediated electron-transfer theory, we find that the electron-transfer rates depend on the topology of the frontier orbital of the molecular linker. This promises the capability of fine tuning the electron-transfer rates by rational design of the linker molecules.