Use of Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy to Measure Built-in Voltage, Space Charge Layer Width, and Effective Band Gap in CdSe Quantum Dot Films

Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) was used to study the photochemistry of mercaptoethanol-ligated CdSe quantum dot (2.0-4.2 nm diameter) films on indium doped tin oxide (ITO) in the absence of an external bias or electrolyte. The n-type films generate negative voltages under super band gap illumination (0.1-0.5 mW cm(-2)) by majority carrier injection into the ITO substrate. The photovoltage onset energies track the optical band gaps of the samples and are assigned as effective band gaps of the films. The photovoltage values (-125 to -750 mV) vary with quantum dot sizes and are modulated by the built-in potential of the CdSe-ITO Schottky type contacts. Deviations from the ideal Schottky model are attributed to Fermi level pinning in states approximately 1.1 V negative of the ITO conduction band edge. Positive photovoltage signals of +80 to +125 mV in films of >4.0 nm nanocrystals and in thin (70 nm) nanocrystal films are attributed to electron-hole (polaron) pairs that are polarized by a space charge layer at the CdSe-ITO boundary. The space charge layer is 70-150 nm wide, based on thickness-dependent photovoltage measurements. The ability of SPS to directly measure built-in voltages, space charge layer thickness, sub-band gap states, and effective band gaps in drop-cast quantum dot films aids the understanding of photochemical charge transport in quantum dot solar cells.

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of β-triazoloporphyrin-xanthone dyads

A novel series of β-triazoloporphyrin-xanthone conjugates and xanthone-bridged β-triazoloporphyrin dyads has been synthesized in moderate to good yields through Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of copper(II) 2-azido-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin or zinc(II) 2-azidomethyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin with various alkyne derivatives of xanthones in DMF containing CuSO4 and ascorbic acid at 80 °C. Furthermore, these metalloporphyrins underwent demetalation under acidic conditions to afford the corresponding free-base porphyrins in good to excellent yields. After successful spectroscopic characterization, these porphyrins have been evaluated for their photophysical properties. The preliminary results revealed a bathochromic shift in the UV-vis and fluorescence spectra of these porphyrin-xanthone dyads.

High precision differential measurement of surface photovoltage transients on ultrathin CdS layers

Time-resolved surface photovoltage (SPV) is an important method for studying charge separation, for example, in nanostructured semiconductors. High precision differential measurement of SPV transients was realized with two identical measurement capacitors and high-impedance buffers. In addition, logarithmic readout and averaging procedures were implemented for single transients over eight magnitudes in time. As a model system ultrathin CdS layers were investigated. The thickness dependencies of the SPV amplitudes and that of the dominating relaxation mechanisms are demonstrated and discussed.

Photovoltaic properties of a ZnO nanorod array affected by ethanol and liquid-crystalline porphyrin

A vertically aligned array of ZnO nanorods, fabricated on conductive ITO substrate in aqueous solution, was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible transmission spectroscopy. Surface photovoltage (SPV) techniques based on a lock-in amplifier and a Kelvin probe were both employed to study the photogenerated charges in the system. The effects of ethanol solvent and a liquid-crystalline porphyrin, [5-(para-dodecyloxy)phenyl-10,15,20-tri-phenyl] porphyrin (DPTPP), on the photovoltage enhancement in the ZnO nanorod array were studied via SPV comparison between different irradiation directions on the system. We demonstrate that the ethanol adsorption could induce the space charge region to expand towards the ZnO/ITO interface. In the absence of ethanol, the ZnO nanorod array with the DPTPP adsorption showed enhanced SPV with reduced attenuation rate of photogenerated charge carriers. We found that the separation of photogenerated charges could be further improved by coating the surface with DPTPP and ethanol together. Furthermore, the SPV spectra patterns of the composite system with opposite incident-light directions reveal that the DPTPP molecules adsorbed just at the surface of ZnO nanorods adopt a more monomeric alignment in contrast to the aggregative state in the DPTPP bulk.

Zinc(II) tetraarylporphyrins anchored to TiO2, ZnO, and ZrO2 nanoparticle films through rigid-rod linkers

A series of six Zn(II) tetraphenylporphyrins (ZnTPP), with a phenyl (P) or oligophenyleneethynylene (OPE = (PE) n ) rigid-rod bridge varying in length (9-30 A) and terminated with an isophthalic acid (Ipa) anchoring unit, were prepared as model dyes for the study of sensitization processes on metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticle surfaces (MO(n) = TiO(2), ZnO, and insulating ZrO(2)). The dyes were designed such that the electronic properties of the central porphyrin chromophore remained consistent throughout the series, with the rigid-rod anchoring unit allowing each porphyrin unit to be located at a fixed distance from the metal oxide nanoparticle surface. Electronic communication between the porphyrin and the rigid-rod unit was not desired. Rigid-rod porphyrins ZnTPP-Ipa, ZnTPP-P-Ipa, ZnTPP-PE-Ipa, ZnTPP-(PE)(2)-Ipa, ZnTPP-(PE)(3)-Ipa, and ZnTMP-Ipa (with mesityl substituents on the porphyrin ring) were synthesized using combinations of mixed aldehyde condensations and Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Their properties, in solution and bound, were compared with that of Zn(II) 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin ( p-ZnTCPP) as the reference compound. Solution UV-vis and steady-state fluorescence spectra for all six rigid-rod-Ipa porphyrins were almost identical to each other and to that of p-ZnTCPP. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry scans of the methyl ester derivatives of the six rigid-rod-Ipa porphyrins, recorded in dichloromethane/electrolyte, exhibited redox behavior typical of ZnTPP porphyrins, with the first oxidation in the range +0.99 to 1.09 V vs NHE. All six rigid-rod-Ipa porphyrins and p-ZnTCPP were bound to metal oxide (MO(n) = TiO(2), ZnO, and insulating ZrO(2)) nanoparticle films. The Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance spectra of all compounds bound to MO n films showed a broad band at 1553-1560 cm(-1) assigned to the v(CO(2)(-)) asymmetric stretching mode. Splitting of the Soret band into two bands at 411 and 423 nm in the UV-vis spectra of the bound compounds, and broadening and convergence of both fluorescence emission bands in the fluorescence spectra of the porphyrins bound to insulating ZrO(2) were also observed. Such changes were less evident for ZnTMP-Ipa, which has mesityl substituents on the porphyrin ring to prevent aggregation. Steady-state fluorescence emission of rigid-rod-Ipa porphyrins bound to TiO(2) and ZnO through the longest bridges (>14 A) showed residual fluorescence emission, while fluorescence quenching was observed for the shortest compounds.