Issue 18, 2019

Opportunities and challenges for electrochemistry in studying the electronic structure of nanocrystals

Abstract

We review the state-of-the-art of determining the electronic structure of nanocrystals in thin films by electrochemistry. Our core conclusion, the necessity of combining electrochemical with spectroscopic techniques, is illustrated with the holistic analysis of thin films of CdSe nanocrystals cross-linked with electroactive metal β-tetraaminophthalocyanines by differential pulse voltammetry, optical spectroscopy and potential modulated absorption spectroscopy. We show that the same nanocrystals cross-linked with phthalocyanines of different metal centers exhibit rather similar electrochemical signatures, but behave distinctly different in spectroelectrochemical investigations. We argue that in one case, namely CdSe nanocrystals cross-linked with Co β-tetraaminophthalocyanine, we find supporting evidence for the hybridization of energy levels at the organic/inorganic interface. This work suggests that spectroelectrochemistry is capable of revealing the electronic structure of complex nanomaterials, such as semiconductor nanocrystals functionalized with organic pi-systems.

Graphical abstract: Opportunities and challenges for electrochemistry in studying the electronic structure of nanocrystals

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
10 جمادى الأولى 1440
Accepted
13 جمادى الثانية 1440
First published
13 جمادى الثانية 1440

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019,21, 8992-9001

Opportunities and challenges for electrochemistry in studying the electronic structure of nanocrystals

M. Weber, S. Westendorf, B. Märker, K. Braun and M. Scheele, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019, 21, 8992 DOI: 10.1039/C9CP00301K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements