SnS44–, SbS43–, and AsS33– Metal Chalcogenide Surface Ligands: Couplings to Quantum Dots, Electron Transfers, and All-Inorganic Multilayered Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

Three inorganic capping ligands (ICLs) for quantum dots (QDs), SnS4(4-), SbS4(3-) and AsS3(3-), were synthesized and the energy levels determined. Proximity between the ICL LUMO and QD conduction level governed the electronic couplings such as absorption shift upon ligand exchange, and electron transfer rate to TiO2. QD-sensitized solar cells were fabricated, using the ICL-QDs and also using QD multilayers layer-by-layer assembled by bridging coordinations, and studied as a function of the ICL ligand and the number of QD layers.