Optoelectronic Properties in Near‐Infrared Colloidal Heterostructured Pyramidal “Giant” Core/Shell Quantum Dots.

Abstract: Colloidal heterostructured quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for next‐generation optoelectronic devices. In particular, “giant” core/shell QDs (g‐QDs) can be engineered to exhibit outstanding optical properties and high chemical/photostability for the fabrication of high‐performance optoelectronic devices. Here, the synthesis of heterostructured CuInSe_xS_2−x (CISeS)/CdSeS/CdS g‐QDs with pyramidal shape by using a facile two‐step method is reported. The CdSeS/CdS shell is demonstrated to have a pure zinc blend phase other than typical wurtzite phase. The as‐obtained heterostructured g‐QDs exhibit near‐infrared photoluminescence (PL) emission (≈830 nm) and very long PL lifetime (in the microsecond range). The pyramidal g‐QDs exhibit a quasi‐type II band structure with spatial separation of electron–hole wave function, suggesting an efficient exciton extraction and transport, which is consistent with theoretical calculations. These heterostructured g‐QDs are used as light harvesters to fabricate a photoelectrochemical cell, exhibiting a saturated photocurrent density as high as ≈5.5 mA cm⁻² and good stability under 1 sun illumination (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm⁻²). These results are an important step toward using heterostructured pyramidal g‐QDs for prospective applications in solar technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]