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He S, Ni A, Gebre ST, Hang R, McBride JR, Kaledin AL, Yang W, Lian T. Doping of Colloidal Nanocrystals for Optimizing Interfacial Charge Transfer: A Double-Edged Sword. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39189788 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Doping of colloidal nanocrystals offers versatile ways to improve their optoelectronic properties, with potential applications in photocatalysis and photovoltaics. However, the precise role of dopants on the interfacial charge transfer properties of nanocrystals remains poorly understood. Here, we use a Cu-doped InP@ZnSe quantum dot as a model system to investigate the dopant effects on both the intrinsic photophysics and their interfacial charge transfer by combining time-resolved transient absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopic methods. Our results revealed that the Cu dopant can cause the generation of the self-trapped exciton, which prolongs the exciton lifetime from 48.3 ± 1.7 to 369.0 ± 4.3 ns, facilitating efficient charge separation to slow electron and hole acceptors. However, hole localization into the Cu site alters their energetic levels, slowing hole transfer and accelerating charge recombination loss. This double-edged sword role of dopants in charge transfer properties is important in the future design of nanocrystals for their optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng He
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Anji Ni
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Sara T Gebre
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Rui Hang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - James R McBride
- Department of Chemistry, The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Alexey L Kaledin
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- The Cherry L. Emerson Center for Scientific Computation, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Wenxing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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2
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Allan MG, Pichon T, McCune JA, Cavazza C, Le Goff A, Kühnel MF. Augmenting the Performance of Hydrogenase for Aerobic Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution via Solvent Tuning. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202219176. [PMID: 36786366 PMCID: PMC10946759 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202219176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
This work showcases the performance of [NiFeSe] hydrogenase from Desulfomicrobium baculatum for solar-driven hydrogen generation in a variety of organic-based deep eutectic solvents. Despite its well-known sensitivity towards air and organic solvents, the hydrogenase shows remarkable performance under an aerobic atmosphere in these solvents when paired with a TiO2 photocatalyst. Tuning the water content further increases hydrogen evolution activity to a TOF of 60±3 s-1 and quantum yield to 2.3±0.4 % under aerobic conditions, compared to a TOF of 4 s-1 in a purely aqueous solvent. Contrary to common belief, this work therefore demonstrates that placing natural hydrogenases into non-natural environments can enhance their intrinsic activity beyond their natural performance, paving the way for full water splitting using hydrogenases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Allan
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySingleton ParkSwanseaSA2 8PPWalesUK
| | - Thomas Pichon
- Univ. Grenoble AlpesCEACNRSIRIGCBM38000GrenobleFrance
| | - Jade A. McCune
- Melville Laboratory for Polymer SynthesisUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | | | - Alan Le Goff
- University Grenoble AlpesCNRSDCM UMR 5250F-38000GrenobleFrance
| | - Moritz F. Kühnel
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySingleton ParkSwanseaSA2 8PPWalesUK
- Dept. Hydrogen Labs and Field TestsFraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy SystemsAm Haupttor, BC 431006237LeunaGermany
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3
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Shulenberger KE, Jilek MR, Sherman SJ, Hohman BT, Dukovic G. Electronic Structure and Excited State Dynamics of Cadmium Chalcogenide Nanorods. Chem Rev 2023; 123:3852-3903. [PMID: 36881852 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The cylindrical quasi-one-dimensional shape of colloidal semiconductor nanorods (NRs) gives them unique electronic structure and optical properties. In addition to the band gap tunability common to nanocrystals, NRs have polarized light absorption and emission and high molar absorptivities. NR-shaped heterostructures feature control of electron and hole locations as well as light emission energy and efficiency. We comprehensively review the electronic structure and optical properties of Cd-chalcogenide NRs and NR heterostructures (e.g., CdSe/CdS dot-in-rods, CdSe/ZnS rod-in-rods), which have been widely investigated over the last two decades due in part to promising optoelectronic applications. We start by describing methods for synthesizing these colloidal NRs. We then detail the electronic structure of single-component and heterostructure NRs and follow with a discussion of light absorption and emission in these materials. Next, we describe the excited state dynamics of these NRs, including carrier cooling, carrier and exciton migration, radiative and nonradiative recombination, multiexciton generation and dynamics, and processes that involve trapped carriers. Finally, we describe charge transfer from photoexcited NRs and connect the dynamics of these processes with light-driven chemistry. We end with an outlook that highlights some of the outstanding questions about the excited state properties of Cd-chalcogenide NRs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madison R Jilek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Skylar J Sherman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Benjamin T Hohman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Gordana Dukovic
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
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4
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DuBose JT, Kamat PV. Energy Versus Electron Transfer: Managing Excited-State Interactions in Perovskite Nanocrystal-Molecular Hybrids. Chem Rev 2022; 122:12475-12494. [PMID: 35793168 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Energy and electron transfer processes in light harvesting assemblies dictate the outcome of the overall light energy conversion process. Halide perovskite nanocrystals such as CsPbBr3 with relatively high emission yield and strong light absorption can transfer singlet and triplet energy to surface-bound acceptor molecules. They can also induce photocatalytic reduction and oxidation by selectively transferring electrons and holes across the nanocrystal interface. This perspective discusses key factors dictating these excited-state pathways in perovskite nanocrystals and the fundamental differences between energy and electron transfer processes. Spectroscopic methods to decipher between these complex photoinduced pathways are presented. A basic understanding of the fundamental differences between the two excited deactivation processes (charge and energy transfer) and ways to modulate them should enable design of more efficient light harvesting assemblies with semiconductor and molecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T DuBose
- Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Prashant V Kamat
- Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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5
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Miyashita T, Jaimes P, Lian T, Tang ML, Xu Z. Quantifying the Ligand-Induced Triplet Energy Transfer Barrier in a Quantum Dot-Based Upconversion System. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:3002-3007. [PMID: 35347991 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
During photon upconversion, quantum dots (QDs) transfer energy to molecules in solution through a long ligand shell. This insulating ligand shell imparts colloidal stability at the expense of efficient photosensitization. For the first time, we quantify the barrier these aliphatic ligands pose for triplet energy transfer in solution. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we experimentally measure a small damping coefficient of 0.027 Å-1 for a ligand exceeding 10 carbons in length. The dynamic nature of ligands in solution lowers the barrier to charge or energy transfer compared to organic thin films. In addition, we show that surface ligands shorter than 8 carbons in length allow direct energy transfer from the QD, bypassing the need for a transmitter ligand to mediate energy transfer, leading to a 6.9% upconversion quantum yield compared with 0.01% for ligands with 18 carbons. This experimentally derived insight will enable the design of efficient QD-based photosensitizers for catalysis and energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsumugi Miyashita
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Paulina Jaimes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Ming Lee Tang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Zihao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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Liu Y, Yang W, Chen Q, Cullen DA, Xie Z, Lian T. Pt Particle Size Affects Both the Charge Separation and Water Reduction Efficiencies of CdS-Pt Nanorod Photocatalysts for Light Driven H 2 Generation. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:2705-2715. [PMID: 35089025 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Decreasing the metal catalyst size into nanoclusters or even single atom is an emerging direction of developing more efficient and cost-effective photocatalytic systems. Because the catalyst particle size affects both the catalyst activity and light driven charge separation efficiency, their effects on the overall photocatalytic efficiency are still poorly understood. Herein, using a well-defined semiconductor-metal heterostructure with Pt nanoparticle catalysts selectively grown on the apexes of CdS nanorods (NRs), we study the effect of the Pt catalyst size on light driven H2 generation quantum efficiency (QEH2). With the increase of the Pt catalyst size from 0.7 ± 0.3 to 3.0 ± 0.8 nm, the QEH2 of CdS-Pt increases from 0.5 ± 0.2% to 38.3 ± 5.1%, by nearly 2 orders of magnitude. Transient absorption spectroscopy measurement reveals that the electron transfer rate from the CdS NR to the Pt tip increases with the Pt diameter following a scaling law of d5.6, giving rise to the increase of electron transfer efficiency at larger Pt sizes. The observed trend can be understood by a simplified kinetic model that assumes the overall efficiency is the product of the quantum efficiencies of charge separation (including hole transfer, electron transfer, and hole scavenging) and water reduction steps, and for CdS-Pt NRs, the quantum efficiencies of electron transfer and water reduction steps increase with the Pt sizes. Our findings suggest the importance of improving the quantum efficiencies of both charge separation and catalysis in designing efficient semiconductor-metal hybrid photocatalysts, especially in the regime of small metal particle sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Wenxing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.,Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels, School of Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qiaoli Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.,State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.,State of Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Chemistry Synthesis Technology and College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - David A Cullen
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Zhaoxiong Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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Yang W, Liu Y, Edvinsson T, Castner A, Wang S, He S, Ott S, Hammarström L, Lian T. Photoinduced Fano Resonances between Quantum Confined Nanocrystals and Adsorbed Molecular Catalysts. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:5813-5818. [PMID: 34132552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Interaction of surface adsorbate vibration and intraband electron absorption in nanocrystals has been reported to affect the photophysical properties of both nanocrystals and surface adsorbates and may affect the performance of hybrid photocatalysts composed of semiconductor nanocrystals and molecular catalysts. Here, by combining ultrafast transient visible and IR spectroscopic measurements, we report the observation of Fano resonances between the intraband transition of the photogenerated electrons in CdS and CdSe nanocrystals and CO stretching vibrational modes of adsorbed molecular catalysts, [Fe2(cbdt)(CO)6] (FeFe; cbdt = 1-carboxyl-benzene-2,3-dithiolate), a molecular mimic for the active site of FeFe-hydrogenase. The occurrence of Fano resonances is independent of nanocrystal types (rods vs dots) or charge transfer character between the nanocrystal and FeFe, and is likely a general feature of nanocrystal and molecular catalyst hybrid systems. These results provide new insights into the fundamental interactions in these hybrid assemblies for artificial photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yawei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Tomas Edvinsson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University, 75103 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ashleigh Castner
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shihuai Wang
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sheng He
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Sascha Ott
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Leif Hammarström
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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8
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Zhu Y, Jin T, Lian T, Egap E. Enhancing the efficiency of semiconducting quantum dot photocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization by ligand shell engineering. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:204903. [PMID: 34241152 DOI: 10.1063/5.0051893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Manipulating the ligand shell of semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) has proven to be a promising strategy to enhance their photocatalytic performance for small molecule transformations, such as H2 evolution and CO2 reduction. However, ligand-controlled catalysis for macromolecules, which differ from small molecules in penetrability and charge transfer behavior due to their bulky sizes, still remains undiscovered. Here, we systematically investigate the role of surface ligands in the photocatalytic performance of cadmium selenide (CdSe) QDs in light-induced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) by using thiol-based ligands with various polarities and chain lengths. A highly enhanced polymerization efficiency was observed when 3-mercapto propionic acid (MPA), a short-chain and polar ligand, was used to modify the CdSe QDs' surface, achieving high chain-end fidelity, good temporal control, and a dispersity of 1.18, while also tolerating a wide-range of functional monomers ranging from acrylates to methacrylates and fluorinated monomers. Transient absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence studies reveal interesting mechanistic details of electron and hole transfers from the excited QDs to the initiators and 3-MPA capping ligands, respectively, providing key mechanistic insight of these ligand controlled and QD photocatalyzed ATRP processes. The thiolate ligands were found to serve as an efficient hole acceptor for QDs, which facilitates the formation of a charge-separated state, followed by electron transfer from the conduction band edge to initiators and ultimately suppressing charge recombination within the QD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhu
- Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Nebraska, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive Nebraska, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Eilaf Egap
- Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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9
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Burke R, Bren KL, Krauss TD. Semiconductor nanocrystal photocatalysis for the production of solar fuels. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:030901. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0032172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebeckah Burke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - Kara L. Bren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - Todd D. Krauss
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
- The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
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10
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Influence of Surface Ligands on Charge-Carrier Trapping and Relaxation in Water-Soluble CdSe@CdS Nanorods. Catalysts 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/catal10101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the impact of the type of ligand at the surface of colloidal CdSe@CdS dot-in-rod nanostructures on the basic exciton relaxation and charge localization processes is closely examined. These systems have been introduced into the field of artificial photosynthesis as potent photosensitizers in assemblies for light driven hydrogen generation. Following photoinduced exciton generation, electrons can be transferred to catalytic reaction centers while holes localize into the CdSe seed, which can prevent charge recombination and lead to the formation of long-lived charge separation in assemblies containing catalytic reaction centers. These processes are in competition with trapping processes of charges at surface defect sites. The density and type of surface defects strongly depend on the type of ligand used. Here we report on a systematic steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigation of the impact of the type of anchoring group (phosphine oxide, thiols, dithiols, amines) and the bulkiness of the ligand (alkyl chains vs. poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)) to unravel trapping pathways and localization efficiencies. We show that the introduction of the widely used thiol ligands leads to an increase of hole traps at the surface compared to trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) capped rods, which prevent hole localization in the CdSe core. On the other hand, steric restrictions, e.g., in dithiolates or with bulky side chains (PEG), decrease the surface coverage, and increase the density of electron trap states, impacting the recombination dynamics at the ns timescale. The amines in poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) on the other hand can saturate and remove surface traps to a wide extent. Implications for catalysis are discussed.
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