title: Ultrafast electron transfer at the molecule-semiconductor nanoparticle interface.
abstract: Electron transfer across the molecule-semiconductor interface is a fundamental process that is relevant to many applications of nanoparticles, such as dye-sensitized solar cells and molecular electronics. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding electron transfer dynamics from molecular adsorbates to semiconductor nanoparticles. Photoexcitation of molecular adsorbates to their excited states is followed by electron injection into semiconductor nanoparticles. The products of electron injection (oxidized adsorbate and electrons in semiconductor) are monitored by their electronic and vibrational spectra, allowing direct measurement of injection rate. The dependence of injection rate on the properties of semiconductor nanoparticle, molecular adsorbate, intervening bridging and anchoring group, and interfacial environment are discussed and compared with Marcus theory of interfacial electron transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. neil.anderson@nist.gov
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Tianquan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lian
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004579:Electron Transport; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry; D012666:Semiconductors; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008670:Metals; D010087:Oxides