(Invited) Atmospheric Plasmas Synthesized Nanocrystals with Quantum Confinement and Quantum Hybrids in Photovoltaics

Tuesday, 11 October 2022: 11:00
V. Svrcek (AIST)
Nanocrystals share lot of advantages of organics namely scalable and controlled synthesis, an ability to be processed in solution while additionally retaining the broadband absorption and superior transport properties of traditional photovoltaic semiconductors. Nanocrystal solar cells have the potential to considerably increase the maximum attainable thermodynamic conversion efficiency (> 50%). Nanocrystal solution-processed can be used in solar cell structure not only as an absorber but also as electron and hole transport layer where the HOMO and LUMO levels can be efficiently controlled by size and/or plasma induced surface engineering directly in colloidal solution. Solution-processed and surface engineered nanocrystals with quantum confinement can be then further used to fabricate new class of quantum hybrids when blended for instance with polymers or perovskites and serves as absorbing and/or e-h transporting material. In this presentation, we overview the atmospheric plasma-based approaches to synthesis and surface engineering of nanocrystals with quantum confinement. We will compare surface engineering by fs laser processing in liquid solutions and synthesis of nanocrystals with strong quantum confinement by atmospheric plasmas. Moreover, to understand the thermal stability of nanocrystals observed experimentally, we calculate the cohesive and the formation energies of nanocrystals by means of first-principle calculations. Finally, we overview our recent progress in integration of surface engineered nanocrystal as a quantum hybrids incorporated within perovskites solar cells.