title: Heteroepitaxial growth of colloidal nanocrystals onto substrate films via hot-injection routes.
abstract: Hot-injection synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) in a substrate-bound form is demonstrated. We show that polycrystalline films submerged into hot organic solvents can nucleate the heteroepitaxial growth of semiconductor NCs, for which the ensuing lattice quality and size distribution are on the par with those of isolated colloidal nanoparticles. This strategy is demonstrated by growing lead chalcogenide NCs directly onto solvent-submerged TiO(2) substrates. The resulting PbX/TiO(2) (X = S, Se, Te) nanocomposites exhibit heteroepitaxial interfaces between lead chalcogenide and oxide domains and show an efficient separation of photoinduced charges, deployable for light-harvesting applications. The extendibility of the present method to other material systems was demonstrated through the synthesis of CdS/TiO(2) and Cu(2)S/TiO(2) heterostructures, fabricated from PbS/TiO(2) composites via cation exchange. The photovoltaic performance of nanocrystal/substrate composites comprising PbS NCs was evaluated by incorporating PbS/TiO(2) films into prototype solar cells.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, United States.
authors.forename: Krishna P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khon
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Conner
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nemitz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klinkova
authors.forename: Rony S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Khnayzer
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anzenbacher
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamkov
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004581:Electronics; D008422:Materials Testing; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012666:Semiconductors; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D010087:Oxides; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium