The shape of semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) can have an important influence on their optical absorption spectra with enhanced absorption resulting from breaking their symmetries. To illustrate this effect, we present broad energy optical excitation spectra of ∼2 nm Si and PbSe nanoparticles, obtained from extensive timedependent density functional theory calculations. We considered both high...

Understanding cooling of hot charge carriers in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) is of fundamental interest and useful to enhance the performance of QDs in photovoltaics. We study electron and hole cooling dynamics in PbSe QDs up to high energies where carrier multiplication occurs. We characterize distinct cooling steps of hot electrons and holes and build up a broadband cooling spectrum for b...

Self-assembled nanocrystal solids show promise as a versatile platform for novel optoelectronic materials. Superlattices composed of a single layer of lead-chalcogenide and cadmium-chalcogenide nanocrystals with epitaxial connections between the nanocrystals, present outstanding questions to the community regarding their predicted band structure and electronic transport properties. However, the...

We report solar cells based on highly confined nanocrystals of the ternary compound PbS(x)Se(1-x). Crystalline, monodisperse alloyed nanocrystals are obtained using a one-pot, hot injection reaction. Rutherford back scattering and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy suggest that the S and Se anions are uniformly distributed in the alloy nanoparticles. Photovoltaic devices made usin...

PbSe nanocrystals with rock-salt structure are grown on the tips of colloidal CdS and CdSe nanorods. The facets of wurtzite rods provide a substrate with various degrees of reactivity for the growth of PbSe. The presence of dangling Cd bonds may explain subtle differences between nonequivalent facets resulting in the selective nucleation of PbSe only on one of the two tips of each CdS rod. This...

Semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) are interesting for fundamental studies of charge transport as well as possible applications in electronics. Here, we report low-voltage, low-hysteresis and ambipolar PbSe nanowire FETs using electrolyte-gating with ionic liquids and ion gels. We obtain balanced hole and electron mobilities at gate voltages below 1 V. Due to the large effec...