| AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Energy Frontiers Research Centers | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session EN-WeA |
| Session: | Energy Frontiers Research Centers |
| Presenter: | X. Zhu, University of Texas, Austin |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
When a molecular or nano material is electronically excited by a photon, the Coulomb attraction between the excited electron and the hole gives rise to an atomic-H-like quasi-particle called an exciton. The bound electron-hole pair also forms across a material interface, such as the donor/acceptor (D/A) interface in an organic heterojunction solar cell; the results are charge-transfer (CT) excitons. In a conventional p-n junction cell, the exciton binding energy is very small and there is a built-in potential to ensure charge separation. In contrast, there is not a priori a built-in potential in an excitonic solar cell based on organic molecules, polymers, or inorganic quantum dots. In this talk, I will attempt to address key factors determining charge separation in two model systems: organic semiconductor interfaces and inorganic quantum dot/electron conductor interfaces. I will highlight the roles of excess electronic energy and strong electronic coupling in determining excitonic charge separation.
Muntwiler, M.; Yang, Q.; Tisdale, W. A.; Zhu, X.-Y. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 101, 196403.
Zhu, X.-Y.; Yang, Q.; Muntwiler, M. Acct. Chem. Res. 2009, 42, published on web 04/21/09.
Williams, K. J.; Tisdale, W. A.; Leschkies, K.; Haugstad, G.; Norris, D. J.; Aydil, E. S.; Zhu, X.-Y. ACS Nano 2009, 3, 1532-1538.
Tisdale, W. A.; Williams, K. J.; Timp, B. C.; Norris, D. J.; Aydil, E. S.; Zhu, X.-Y. to be published.