Characterization of hot carrier cooling and multiple exciton generation dynamics in PbS QDs using an improved transient grating technique

Multiple exciton generation （MEG） dynamics in colloidal PbS quantum dots （QDs） characterized with an im- proved transient grating （TG） technique will be reported. Only one peak soon after optical absorption and a fast decay within 1 ps can be observed in the TG kinetics when the photon energy of the pump light hv is smaller than 2.7Eg （Eg： band gap between LUMO and HOMO in the QDs）, which corresponds to hot carrier cooling. When hv is greater than 2.7Eg, however, after the initial peak, the TG signal decreases first and soon increases, and then a new peak appears at about 2 to 3 ps. The initial peak and the new peak correspond to hot carriers at the higher excited state and MEG at the lowest excited state, respectively. By proposing a theoretical model, we can calculate the hot carrier cooling time constant and MEG occurrence time constant quantitatively. When MEG does not happen for hv smaller than 2.7Eg, hot carrier cools with a time con- stant of 400 fs. When MEG occurs for hv larger than 2.7Eg, hot carrier cools with a time constant as small as 200 fs, while MEG occurs with a time constant of 600 fs. The detailed hot carrier cooling and MEG occurrence dynamics characterized in this work would shed light on the further understanding of MEG mechanism of various type of semiconductor QDs.

Exploiting Quantum Confinement for Future Solar Cell Application

Present solar cells are expensive making photovoitaic electricity only attractive whenever there is government incentive. This paper highlights the cost of photovoltaic classified according to first, second and third generations. The first and second generations make up the current photovoltaic. The reasons for the efficiency limitation of the first and second generation photovoltaic are given. Nanoparticles such as quantum dots have confinement properties that can be exploited to improve solar cell efficiency and help reduce the cost. Quantum effect that support hot electron collection and multiple exciton generation through impact ionization are discussed. These form the basis of the future generation quantum dot solar cell.

Recent development in colloidal quantum dots photovoltaics

The increasing demand for sustainable and green energy supply spurred the surging research on high- efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics. Colloidal quantum dot solar cell （CQDSC） is a new type of photovoltaic device using lead chalcogenide quantum dot film as absorber materials. It not only has a potential to break the 33% Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for single junction solar cell, but also possesses low-temperature, high-throughput solution processing. Since its first report in 2005, CQDSCs experienced rapid progress achieving a certified 7% efficiency in 2012, an averaged 1% efficiency gain per year. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress reported in the last two years. We started with background introduction and motivation for CQDSC research. We then briefly introduced the evolution history of CQDSC development as well as multiple exciton generation effect. We further focused on the latest efforts in improving the light absorption and carrier collection efficiency, including the bulk-heterojunction structure, quantum funnel concept, band alignment optimization and quantum dot passivation. Afterwards, we discussed the tandem solar cell and device stability, and concluded this article with a perspective. Hopefully, this review paper covers the major achievement in this field in year 2011-2012 and provides readers with a concise and clear understanding of recent CQDSC development.