Light Can Induce Free Movement of Electrons in Linked Nanoparticles

Researchers from the Netherlands- based Delft University of Technology’s Kavli Institute and the Chemical Engineering Department have established that electrons can be made to move freely in linked semiconductor nanoparticle layers induced by light. This discovery could be instrumental in developing inexpensive and high-performance quantum dot solar cells.

Normal crystalline silicon-based solar panels are very expensive and can only make one electron move upon addition of light. This is called the electron-hole pair and it can attain an efficiency rate of 8%. On the other hand solar cells that have quantum dots can make many electrons move and can reach an efficiency rate of 44%. It is essential for electrons and electron-hole pairs to move in order to create an electrical current that is amassed at the electrode. The electron-hole pairs travel as free charges hence researchers have been able to achieve the movement of electrons and electron-hole-pairs within nanoparticles by linking them through molecules. They were clustered in such a manner that they were connected with each other closely and yet remained apart from each other. This arrangement enabled the absorption of each light particle effectively in order to make the electrons move.

The findings of the researchers have been published in the website of scientific journal titled, Nature Nanotechnology” on September 25.