Exploring a New Generation Environmentally Friendly Quantum Dot Materials

Quantum dots (QDs) based on nanometer sized semiconductor particles are very promising for utilization in optoelectronic devices.

The size and surface of the QDs are very important for the properties of the QDs and due to quantum size effects it may also be possible to obtain new interesting optoelectronic phenomena.

However, most QDs are based on toxic materials, which may limit future large scale utilization in devices.This project will merge my research on lead-free metal-sulfide quantum dots with my research on lead-free metal-halides, for utilization in environmentally friendly solar cell devices.

New QDs based on lead-free metal-sulfides will be prepared and by changing the size and by introducing the QDs in a metal-halide matrix we will tune the light absorption, light emission and the electronic properties.Advanced spectroscopies in combination with theory will be used to characterize the QD materials and to understand the fundamental quantum phenomena.

Also the possibility to utilize QD effects of slow cooling of hot electrons and multiple exciton generation from single photons will be investigated.With my broad knowledge of materials, devices and advanced spectroscopy it will be possible to link the fundamental properties of the new QDs to the macroscopic materials in this project, which will be very important to reach the final goal of efficient solar cell devices based on the new environmentally friendly QDs.