Semiconductor Nanocrystals Photosensitize C60 Crystals

by Andreas Biebersdorf et al. Nano Letters, 10 Jun 2006 (Web release) Semiconductor nanocrystals (SCNCs) made of CdSe, CdTe, and InP are used to photosensitize needlelike C₆₀ crystals. The photocurrent is increased by up to 3 orders of magnitude as compared with C₆₀ crystals without SCNCs. The photocurrent spectrum can be tuned precisely by the SCNC size and material, rendering the SCNC-functionalized C₆₀ crystals an excellent material for spectrally tuneable photodetectors. We explain the increased photocurrent as a result of photoexcited electrons transferring from the SCNCs to the C₆₀ crystals and causing photoconductivity, while the complementary holes remain trapped in the SCNCs. Read more