Novel Synthesis of Chalcopyrite
Cu<sub><i>x</i></sub>In<sub><i>y</i></sub>S<sub>2</sub> Quantum Dots with
Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances
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Abstract
The burgeoning field of thin film quantum dot photovoltaics
has
made considerable strides toward efficient and inexpensive forms of
third generation solar cells. However, these technologies have largely
been based upon toxic metal-containing materials, limiting their foreseeable
applications. Here we present a synthesis of nontoxic and stable Cu<sub><i>x</i></sub>In<sub><i>y</i></sub>S<sub>2</sub> quantum dots with tunable size and band gap. Interestingly, this
synthesis leads to the presence of a broad-band and size-dependent
absorption peak in the infrared (IR), attributed to localized surface
plasmon resonances (LSPRs). Due to the sensitivity of their LSPR peak
to quantum dot size and solvent refractive index, these quantum dots
provide an attractive candidate for tunable plasmon resonance applications.
And, if these LSPRs are found to be coupled with excitonic transitions,
they may result in sizable increases in photovoltaic efficiency