CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods (NR) with rod-in-rod morphology offer a new architecture for engineering highly emissive nanostructures. The interplay between energetically matched semiconductors results in enhanced emission from the CdSe core. In order to further evaluate the synergistic role of these semiconductor materials, the photoinduced charge transfer process between CdSe/CdS core/shell semiconductor NR and methyl viologen (MV2+), an electron acceptor, was investigated. The quenching of the emission by the addition of MV2+ as well as the production of electron transfer product MV+● directly correlate to the length of the NR shell. Furthermore, transient absorption measurements show that the presence of MV2+ largely influences the bleaching recovery of the CdS shell over that of the CdSe core recovery. This discovery allows for the deconvolution of core/shell dynamic and points out the role of CdS shell as the site for electron transfer further indicating responsibility in determining overall photocatalytic efficiency. Thus, optimization of core/shell aspect ratio plays a crucial role in maximizing the efficiency of this photocatalytic system.

Size-tunable interfacial charge transfer with CdSe/CdS nanorod photocatalysts

251st National Meeting (2016)

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