Browsing by Subject "Time-resolved fluorescence"

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Open Access
Multiexciton generation assisted highly photosensitive CdHgTe nanocrystal skins
(Elsevier Ltd, 2016) Akhavan S.; Cihan, A. F.; Yeltik A.; Bozok, B.; Lesnyak, V.; Gaponik N.; Eychmüller A.; Demir, Hilmi Volkan
Multiexciton Generation (MEG) enabled by the photogeneration of more than one electron-hole pairs upon the absorption of a single photon observed in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is an essential key to high efficiency when operating in large enough photon energy regimes. Here, we report a newly designed class of solution-processed highly sensitive MEG-assisted photosensors of CdHgTe NCs, in which the charge accumulation is dramatically enhanced for photon energies greater than two times the bandgap of the employed NCs. We fabricated and comparatively studied five types of devices based on different NC monolayers of selected quantum-confined bandgaps resulting in different levels of photovoltage buildup readouts. Among these photosensitive platforms, MEG is distinctly observed for CdHgTe NCs, as the number of electrons trapped inside these NCs and the number of holes accumulating into the interfacing metal electrode were increased beyond a single exciton per absorbed photon. Furthermore, we conducted time-resolved fluorescence measurements and confirmed the occurrence of MEG in the CdHgTe NC monolayer of the photosensor. These findings pave the way for engineering of multiexciton kinetics in high-efficiency NC-based photosensors and photovoltaics.
Open Access
Photosensitivity enhancement with TiO2 in semitransparent light-sensitive skins of nanocrystal monolayers
(American Chemical Society, 2014) Akhavan S.; Yeltik, A.; Demir, Hilmi Volkan
We propose and demonstrate light-sensitive nanocrystal skins that exhibit broadband sensitivity enhancement based on electron transfer to a thin TiO2 film grown by atomic layer deposition. In these photosensors, which operate with no external bias, photogenerated electrons remain trapped inside the nanocrystals. These electrons generally recombine with the photogenerated holes that accumulate at the top interfacing contact, which leads to lower photovoltage buildup. Because favorable conduction band offset aids in transferring photoelectrons from CdTe nanocrystals to the TiO2 layer, which decreases the exciton recombination probability, TiO2 has been utilized as the electron-accepting material in these light-sensitive nanocrystal skins. A controlled interface thickness between the TiO2 layer and the monolayer of CdTe nanocrystals enables a photovoltage buildup enhancement in the proposed nanostructure platform. With TiO2 serving as the electron acceptor, we observed broadband sensitivity improvement across 350-475 nm, with an approximately 22% enhancement. Furthermore, time-resolved fluorescence measurements verified the electron transfer from the CdTe nanocrystals to the TiO2 layer in light-sensitive skins. These results could pave the way for engineering nanocrystal-based light-sensing platforms, such as smart transparent windows, light-sensitive walls, and large-area optical detection systems.