Hybrid nanomaterials are making waves in the world of solar energy as scientists discover new ways to capture, detect, convert, and control light by combining organic and inorganic elements. In recent years, the rate of scientific publications about these materials has skyrocketed, as researchers explore the potential for these materials to increase the efficiency of solar power systems.
One way hybrid nanomaterials could revolutionize solar energy is by capturing energy from sunlight at wavelengths, such as infrared, that traditional photovoltaic solar panels cannot. These materials are created by combining “charge acceptor” molecules, which serve as ligands and attach to the surface of semiconductors to transport electrons away from the semiconductor nanocrystals, with nanocrystals of light-capturing semiconductors.
Recently, scientists at the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Center for Adapting Flaws into Features (CAFF) at Rice University conducted a thorough investigation of hybrid materials containing lead sulfide nanocrystals and varying concentrations of the organic dye perylene diimide (PDI) to test their hypothesis. The experiments demonstrated that a gradual increase in PDI concentration on nanocrystal surfaces eventually led to a sharp decline in electron transfer rates.
According to co-principal investigator, Peter Rossky, the influence of ligand-ligand interactions between PDI molecules on the geometries of PDI aggregates on crystal surfaces is key to this behavior. The research team used a combination of spectroscopic experiments, electronic structure calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations to put together the evidence needed to demonstrate the significance of these aggregation effects.
The findings from this study are just the latest example of how hybrid nanomaterials are opening up new possibilities for solar energy. As scientists continue to explore the potential of these materials, we may see even more breakthroughs in the future that could lead to more efficient and cost-effective solar power systems.
Source: doi:10.1021/jacs.2c09758