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Title: Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of Self-Assembled Films of PbSe Nanocrystals Treated with 1,2-Ethanedithiol

Journal Article · · ACS Nano
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/nn7003348· OSTI ID:939501

We describe the structural, optical, and electrical properties of high-quality films of PbSe nanocrystals fabricated by a layer-by-layer (LbL) dip-coating method that utilizes 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) as an insolubilizing agent. Comparative characterization of nanocrystal films made by spin-coating and by the LbL process shows that EDT quantitatively displaces oleic acid on the PbSe surface, causing a large volume loss that electronically couples the nanocrystals while severely degrading their positional and crystallographic order of the films. Field-effect transistors based on EDT-treated films are moderately conductive and ambipolar in the dark, becoming p-type and 30-60 times more conductive under 300 mW cm{sup -2} broadband illumination. The nanocrystal films oxidize rapidly in air to yield, after short air exposures, highly conductive p-type solids. The LbL process described here is a general strategy for producing uniform, conductive nanocrystal films for applications in optoelectronics and solar energy conversion.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-99-GO10337
OSTI ID:
939501
Journal Information:
ACS Nano, Vol. 2, Issue 2, 2008
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English