Ultra long-lived electron-hole separation within water-soluble colloidal ZnO nanocrystals: Prospective applications for solar energy production

作者：Cieslak Anna M; Pavliuk Mariia V; D' Amario Luca; Abdellah Mohamed; Sokolowski Kamil; Rybinska Urszula; Fernandes Daniel L A; Leszczynski Michal K; Mamedov Fikret; El Zhory Ahmed M; Fohlinger Jens; Budinska Alena; Wolska Pietkiewicz Malgorzata; Hammarstrom Leif; Lewinski Janusz; Sa Jacinto

来源：Nano Energy, 2016, 30: 187-192.

DOI：10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.09.045

• Water-soluble colloidal ZnO nanocrystals
• Ultra long-lived electron-hole separation
• Advanced laser based spectroscopy
• Solar energy production prospectus

Zinc oxide was one of the first semiconductors used in dye-sensitized solar cells but its instability in aqueous media precludes its use for large-scale applications. Herein, we report on a novel ZnO nanocrystal material derived by an organometallic approach that is simultaneously stable and soluble in water due to its carboxylate oligoethylene glycol shell strongly anchored to the inorganic core by the head groups. The resulting unique inorganic core-organic shell interface also stabilizes the photo-generated hole, leading to a dramatic slowing down of charge recombination, which otherwise is a major hurdle in using nanostructured ZnO.

• 出版日期2016-12