| AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition | |
| Energy Frontiers Focus Topic | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session EN+NS-TuA |
| Session: | Nanostructured Materials for Thermophotovoltaics, Thermoelectrics & Plasmonics |
| Presenter: | Dmitri Talapin, University of Chicago |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Colloidal nanocrystals can combine the advantages of crystalline inorganic semiconductors with the size-tunable electronic structure and inexpensive solution-based device fabrication. Single- and multicomponent nanocrystal assemblies, also known as superlattices, provide a powerful general platform for designing two- and three-dimensional solids with tailored electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. Unlike atomic and molecular crystals where atoms, lattice geometry, and interatomic distances are fixed entities, the nanocrystal arrays represent ensembles of “designer atoms” with potential for tuning their electronic structure and transport properties. Generally speaking, nanocrystal assemblies can be considered as a novel type of condensed matter, whose behavior depends both on the properties of the individual building blocks and on the interparticle exchange interactions.
The ability to assemble precisely engineered nanoscale building blocks into complex structures is opening the door to materials where components and functionalities can be added, tuned or combined in a predictable manner. I will show how self-assembly of nanocrystals can lead to a palette of unprecedented phases including superlattices isostructural with the Archimedean tilings and dodecagonal quasicrystals.
Efficient charge transport is crucial for performance of nanocrystal-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. The insulating nature of surface ligands traditionally used for nanocrystal synthesis results in the poor electronic coupling between individual nanocrystals. To facilitate charge transport in nanocrystal solids, we introduced the concept of inorganic ligands for colloidal nanocrystals. These ligands, namely metal chalcogenide complexes, can be applied to a broad range of inorganic nanomaterials. I will demonstrate the power of this approach on several examples of prospective electronic, thermoelectric and photovoltaic materials.