Semiconductor nanocrystals have shown great promise in the fabrication of photovoltaic devices and designing photocatalysts. In order to improve the performance and longevity of such devices/catalysts it is extremely important to use a redox electrolyte to scavange the photo-generated holes. However, it is an ongoing challenge for the scientific community to understand the redox chemistry of such nanocrystals. This is because of the inability to find appropriate organic solvent/electrolyte systems, in which the large band gap of the semiconductor nanocrystal can be assessed appropriately without decomposing during the electrochemical measurements. Our research has demonstrated that ultra-small to small-sized CdSe nanocrystals that are coated with poly (ethylene glycol) thiolate exhibit reversible redox chemistry in Bu4NPF6/CH3CN. In addition, we have shown that structural parameters such as nanocrystal's core diameter and chemical nature of the surface passivating ligands, and also dielectric constant of the solvent can influence the redox properties of nanocrystals.

Effects of structural parameters on redox properties of semiconductor nanocrystals

246th National Meeting (2013)

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