• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2021

In this study, quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSC) using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QD) of various sizes with green, yellow, and red colors are developed. Quantum dots, depending their different sizes, have advantages of absorbing light of various wavelengths. This absorption of light of various wavelengths increases the photocurrent production of solar cells. The absorption and emission peaks and excellent photochemical properties of the synthesized quantum dots are confirmed through UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. In TEM analysis, the average sizes of individual green, yellow, and red quantum dots are shown to be 5 nm, 6 nm, and 8 nm. The J-V curves of QDSSC for one type of QD show a current density of 1.7 mA/㎠ and an open-circuit voltage of 0.49 V, while QDSSC using three type of QDs shows improved electrical characteristics of 5.52 mA/㎠ and 0.52 V. As a result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of QDSSC using one type of QD is as low as 0.53 %, but QDSSC using three type of QDs has a measured efficiency of 1.4 %.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.293-306
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• 2020

Increasing harmful effects of climate change, such as its effect on water scarcity, has led to a focus on developing effective water purification methods to obtain pure water. Additionally, rising levels of water pollution is increasing levels of environmental degradation, calling for sources of water treatment to remove contaminants. To purify water, osmotic processes across a semipermeable membrane can take place, and recent studies are showing that incorporating nanoparticles, including carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene carbon dots (GQDs), and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are making thin film composite (TFC) membranes more effective by increasing water flux while maintaining similar levels of salt rejection, increasing the hydrophilicity of the membrane surface, showing bactericidal properties, exhibiting antifouling properties to prevent accumulation of bacteria or other microorganisms from reducing the effectiveness of the membrane, and more. In the review, the synthesis process, applications, functionality, properties, and the role of several types of quantum dots are discussed in the composite membrane for water purification.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.167-171
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• 2015

Quantum-confined nanostructures open up additional perspectives in engineering materials with different electronic and optical properties. We have fabricated unique cation-exchanged CdS and CdS/CdSe quantum dots and measured their first four exciton transitions. We demonstrate that the relationship between electronic transitions and charge-carrier distributions is generalized for a broad range of core-shell nanostructures. These nanostructures can be used to further improve the performance in the fields of bio-imaging, light-emitting devices, photovoltaics, and quantum computing.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2002

For potential application to quantum mechanical devices, nano-composite thin films, consisting of GaAs quantum dots dispersed in SiO$_2$ glass matrix, were fabricated and studied in terms of structural, chemical, and optical properties. In order to form crystalline GaAs quantum dots at room temperature, uniformly dispersed in $SiO_2$matrix, the composite films were made to consist of alternating layers of GaAs and $SiO_2$in the manner of a superlattice using RF magnetron sputter deposition. Among different film samples, nominal thickness of an individual GaAs layer was varied with a total GaAs volume fraction fixed. From images of High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), the formation of GaAs quantum dots on SiO$_2$was shown to depend on GaAs nominal thickness. GaAs deposits were crystalline and GaAs compound-like chemically according to HRTEM and XPS analysis, respectively. From measurement of optical absorbance using a spectrophotometer, absorption edges were determined and compared among composite films of varying GaAs nominal thicknesses. A progressively larger shift of absorption edge was noticed toward a blue wavelength with decreasing GaAs nominal thickness, i.e. quantum dots size. Band gaps of the composite films were also determined from Tauc plots as well as from PL measurements, displaying a linear decrease with increasing GaAs nominal thickness.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.533-534
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• 2012

Colloidal III-V semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) have attracted attention as they can be applied in various areas such as LED, solar cell, biological imaging, and so on because they have decreased ionic lattices, lager exciton diameter, and reduced toxicity compared with II-VI compounds. However, the study and application of III-V semiconductor nanocrystals is limited by difficulties in control nucleation because the molecular bonds in III-V semiconductors are highly covalent compared to II-VI compounds. There is a need for a method that provides rapid and scalable production of highly quality nanoparticles. We present a new synthetic scheme for the preparation of InP nanocrystal quantum dots using new phosphorus precursor, P(SiMe2tbu)3. InP nanocrystals from 530nm to 600nm have been synthesized via the reaction of In(Ac)3 and new phosphorus precursor in noncoordinating solvent, ODE. This opens the way for the large-scale production of high quality Cd-free nanocrystal quantum dots.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.541-541
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• 2012

InP quantum dots capped by myristic acid (InP-MA QDs) were synthesized by a typical hot injection method using MA as stablizing agent. The current density across the InP-MA QDs thin film which was fabricated by spin-coating method is about $10^{-4}A/cm^2$ at the electric field of 0.1 MV/cm from I-V measurement on a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device. The low conductivity of the InP-MA QDs thin film is interpreted as due to the long interdistances among the dots governed by the MA molecules. Therefore, replacing the MA with thioacetic acid (TAA) by biphasic ligand exchange was conducted in order to obtain TAA capped InP QDs (InP-TAA). InP-TAA QDs were designed due to: 1) the TAA is very short molecule; 2) the thiolate groups on the surface of the InP-TAA QDs are expected to undergo condensation reaction upon thermal annealing which connects the QDs within the QD thin film through a very short linker -S-; and 3) TAA provides better passivation to the QDs both in the solution and thin film states which minimizing the effect of surface trapping states.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.606-610
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• 2010

Films consisting of a silicon quantum dot superlattice were fabricated by alternating deposition of silicon rich silicon nitride and $Si_3N_4$ layers using an rf magnetron co-sputtering system. In order to use the silicon quantum dot super lattice structure for third generation multi junction solar cell applications, it is important to control the dot size. Moreover, silicon quantum dots have to be in a regularly spaced array in the dielectric matrix material for in order to allow for effective carrier transport. In this study, therefore, we fabricated silicon quantum dot superlattice films under various conditions and investigated crystallization behavior of the silicon quantum dot super lattice structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed an increased intensity of the $840\;cm^{-1}$ peak with increasing annealing temperature due to the increase in the number of Si-N bonds. A more conspicuous characteristic of this process is the increased intensity of the $1100\;cm^{-1}$ peak. This peak was attributed to annealing induced reordering in the films that led to increased Si-$N_4$ bonding. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that peak position was shifted to higher bonding energy as silicon 2p bonding energy changed. This transition is related to the formation of silicon quantum dots. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis also confirmed the formation of silicon quantum dots. This study revealed that post annealing at $1100^{\circ}C$ for at least one hour is necessary to precipitate the silicon quantum dots in the $SiN_x$ matrix.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.571-575
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• 2017

In this study, cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots were synthesized by using ultrasonic irradiation method. Optical properties and structural characteristics of the CdTe quantum dots were analyzed by two main variables; the ratio of the precursor and the synthesis time. As the synthesis time increased, the band gap reduction was observed with the growth of CdTe quantum dots. As for the luminescence properties, the red shift appeared at 510~610 nm wavelength range. Also, it was confirmed that the red shift occurs rapidly as the ratio of Te increases. According to PL peak intensity, the highest intensity was shown at 180 to 240 min. Structural characteristics of CdTe quantum dots were investigated through XRD and TEM, and the cubic zinc blend structure was observed. The size of quantum dots was about 2.5 nm and uniformly dispersed when the synthesis time took 210 min. In addition, the apparent crystallinity was discovered in FFT image.

• Journal of Information Display
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2012

Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are considered alternatives to Cd-containing QDs for application in light-emitting devices. The multishell coating with ZnSe/ZnS was shown to improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (QY) of InP QDs more strongly than the conventional ZnS shell coating. Structural proof for this system was provided by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. QY values in the range of 50-70% along with peak widths of 45-50 nm can be routinely achieved, making the optical performance of InP/ZnSe/ZnS QDs comparable to that of Cd-based QDs. The fabrication of a working electroluminescent light-emitting device employing the reported material demonstrated the feasibility of the desired application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.249.1-249.1
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• 2015

Quantum dots (QDs) are attracting growing attention for photovoltaic device applications because of their unique electronic, optical and physical properties. Lead sulfide (PbS) QDs are one of the most widely studied materials for the devices and known to have size-tunable properties. In this context, we investigated the relationship between the size of PbS QDs and two synthesizing conditions, a concentration of ligand, oleic acid in this work, and injection temperature. The inverted colloidal quantum dot solar cells based on the heterojunction of n-type zinc oxide layer and p-type PbS QDs were also fabricated. The size of the QDs and cell properties were observed to depend on both the QD synthesizing conditions, and hence the overall efficiency of the cell could vary even though the size of QDs used was same. The QD synthesizing conditions were finally optimized for the maximum cell efficiency.