Nanocrystals for thin film optoelectronic device applications

Collloidal nanocrystals of semiconductors (aka quantum dots) are being incorporated into thin film devices for their potential application in light emission, photo detection, and solar energy conversion. The chemistry and the optical and electrical properties of the quantum dots and their thin films needs to be characterized and optimized for the application. Often this involves particular choices for compositions of quantum dot core and shell, and pre and post-deposition treatments to increase brightness or conductivity. Optical spectroscopic measurements as well as dark and photoconductivity measurements are critical in understanding the basic carrier relaxation processes, and the conduction and photo-conduction processes in thin films of nanocrystals as well as in hybrid structures of quantum dots with organic or inorganic transport layers. This talk will discuss recent results in the design and spectroscopy of colloidal quantum dots and some of their thin film model device systems, including those relevant for light emission, light detection, and solar energy conversion.