Quantum Dots: Conjugated Polymer/Nanocrystal Nanocomposites for Renewable Energy Applications in Photovoltaics and Photocatalysis (Small 22/2014)

Nanocomposites comprising well-mixed semiconductor nanocrystals and conjugated polymers that have relative offset energy band structures can not only complement the light absorption range of the solar spectrum but also result in a dissociation of charge-transferred excitons upon absorption, with electrons transferring to the nanocrystals and holes remaining in the conjugated polymers. On page 4427, K.-H. Wei and co-workers find that this generates a photocurrent for photovoltaic applications or for reducing/oxidizing reactions for photocatalysis applications.