SCIENCE AT THE EDGE SEMINAR SERIES
Interdisciplinary Physics Seminar
Friday, 18 January 2013 at 11:30am
Room 1400 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Bldg.
Refreshments at 11:15
Speaker: Mikhail Zamkov, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bowling Green State University
Title: Engineering of Semiconductor Nanocrystals and Nanocrystal Solids for Renewable Energy Applications
Abstract:
In the first part, I will discuss a novel methodology for depositing colloidal
semiconductor nanocrystals into all-inorganic solid films with implications
both to nanocrystal solar cells and nanocrystal light-emitting devices. The
reported strategy utilizes a simple scheme for incorporating PbS or CdSe
semiconductor nanocrystals into matrices of a wide-band gap CdS semiconductor
for stable and efficient operation of solution-processed devices.
The two key benefits of this approach include: (i) all-inorganic architecture promoting superior thermal and chemical stability, and - (ii) a unique film morphology, which offers the possibility of tuning the film properties between conducting (for applications in solar cells) and light-emitting (LEDs, lasers) simply by changing the interparticle distance in the matrix. This approach is universal and can be extended to a large number of nanocrystal/matrix combinations.
The second part of the presentation will focus on ultrafast electron processes taking place in photocatalytically active metal-semiconductor nanocrystals. In particular, the key factors affecting the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor nanocrystals will be reviewed.