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Ultrafast Charge Separation From Highly Reductive Znte/Cdse Type Ii Quantum Dots
Ultrafast Charge Separation From Highly Reductive Znte/Cdse Type Ii Quantum Dots
pubs.acs.org/JPCL
© 2012 American Chemical Society 2052 dx.doi.org/10.1021/jz3008886 | J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2012, 3, 2052−2058
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Letter
Figure 3. (a) TA spectra of ZnTe/CdSe type II QDs at indicated delay times after 400 nm excitation. (b) TA kinetics of the QDs probed at
indicated wavelengths (transitions) and (c) their extended view in the early time window. The kinetics of the T1 transition were obtained by
subtraction (see main text for the details). The black solid lines are the fits to eqs S1−S3.
Figure 4. (a) TA spectra of free ZnTe/CdSe QDs at indicated delay times after 585 nm excitation. (b) TA kinetics of the QDs probed at indicated
wavelengths (transitions) and (c) their extended view in the early time window.
1se and 1sh energy levels are calculated to be −3.1 and −5.1 eV, 1se in CdSe and the measured transition energy (500 nm), the
respectively, as shown in the inset in Figure 2, indicating a value energy level in the valence band for the transition at 500 nm is
of 2.0 eV for transition T2. This value agrees well with the estimated to be −5.6 eV, which is very close to the valence-
measured value of 2.07 eV at the absorption band of 600 nm, band level of the CdSe shell. We therefore assign the
supporting our assignment for T2. absorption band at 500 nm to the transition from the lowest
The TA measurements on identical QD samples were also energy delocalized valence-band hole level to the 1se level in the
carried out with an excitation at 585 nm, where only transition CdSe shell, as shown for the transition T3 in Figure 2.
T2 at 600 nm is excited. The TA spectra at different delay times Another TA feature that is significantly different at different
after 585 nm excitation are shown in Figure 4a, still showing excitation wavelengths is the ratio of the bleach amplitudes at
bleaches of the 500 and 600 nm absorption bands. The kinetics 500 and 600 nm bands (ΔA500 nm/ΔA600 nm). With 585 nm
probed at these two bands are almost identical (Figure 4b), and excitation, the ratio is ∼0.85 over the whole time window (see
the bleach signals form faster (within 0.3 ps) (Figure 4c) than Figure 4a). However, the ratio increases to ∼1.1 with 400 nm
those using 400 nm excitation. These results indicate that the excitation in the early time (within the first 2 ps), and then
transitions at 500 nm involve the same 1se level in the CdSe reduces to ∼0.85 (see Figure 3a), suggesting that the bleach
shell as T2 at 600 nm, and the electronic occupation of the level band at 500 nm has a contribution from another transition
is through excitation of T2. From the calculated energy level of (namely T1) when excited at 400 nm. The kinetics of T1
2054 dx.doi.org/10.1021/jz3008886 | J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2012, 3, 2052−2058
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Letter
Figure 5. TA spectra of ZnTe/CdSe−AQ complexes at indicated delay times after (a) 400 nm excitation and (b) 585 nm excitation. (c) TA kinetics
probed at 680 nm with 400 and 585 nm excitations and (d) their extended view in the early time window. The black solid lines are the fits according
to eqs S4 and S5.
(ΔA(t)T1) can be obtained by subtracting the T3 contribution The fit of the kinetics in Figure 3b,c according to eqs S1−S3
(ΔA(t)T3): ΔA(t)T1 = ΔA(t)500nm − ΔA(t)T3, with ΔA(t)500nm yields an internal ET time constant (1/kIET) of 0.67 ps from the
= ΔA(t)T1+T3 and ΔA(t)T3 = 0.85ΔA(t)T2 at 600 nm. The ZnTe core to the CdSe shell. This internal charge separation
kinetics of T1 are also plotted in Figure 3b,c. The T1 time is similar to reported values in CdTe/CdSe10 and ZnSe/
contribution is only present with a high energy excitation and CdS25 type II nanocrystals. The internal charge recombination
can be attributed to the transition from the 1sh level in ZnTe to dynamics are stretched over a long time scale from picoseconds
a delocalized conduction-band electron level, as shown in the to tens of nanoseconds as observed in TA kinetics (Figure 3b)
inset in Figure 2. On the basis of the calculated 1sh level in the and fluorescence lifetimes (Figure S2), with an averaged time
ZnTe core and the measured transition energy (500 nm), the constant of 115 ps. It is much slower than the recombination
energy level in the CB involved in the T1 transition is estimated kinetics in the ZnTe seed, whose time constant is 23 ps (Figure
to be at −2.6 eV. S5), consistent with the slow electron−hole recombination rate
The correlation between the kinetics at T1, T2, and T3 expected in the type II core/shell QDs.
transitions indicates the presence of an internal charge To study the photoinduced external charge separation and
separation process from the ZnTe core to the CdSe shell. recombination dynamics from ZnTe/CdSe type II QDs, we
With 400 nm excitation (see Figure 3c), the bleach of the T1 chose AQ as the electron acceptor. AQ molecules have been
band forms within ∼0.3 ps, due to the formation of excitons in utilized as electron acceptors to probe the charge separation
the ZnTe core. It quickly decays within ∼2 ps and leads to the and recombination dynamics in other QDs.10,26 The reduction
growth of the bleach signals of T2 and T3, indicating an potential of AQ is −4.0 eV (vs Vac.), indicating that the ET
internal ET process from the ZnTe core to the 1se level in the from ZnTe/CdSe to AQ is energetically allowed. The
CdSe shell. The kinetics at 500 nm have contributions from preparation of the QD−AQ complexes is described in the SI.
both T1 and T3 transitions, and therefore exhibit faster bleach The UV−vis absorption spectrum of the ZnTe/CdSe-AQ
formation kinetics than T2 at 600 nm. The contribution from complex is shown in Figure S6. The average number of the
T1 becomes negligible after 2 ps, and then the kinetics at 500 adsorbed AQ molecules per QD is estimated to be 1−2 (see
and 600 nm become identical (see Figure 3b), reflecting the Figure S6 for the details). The fluorescence of the QDs is
same electron depopulation process from the 1se level in the dramatically quenched by AQ.
CdSe shell through electron hole recombination and/or The TA spectra of this QD−AQ complex at different delay
relaxation to defect states. With excitation at 585 nm, the times after 400 and 585 nm excitations are shown in Figure 5a
transitions T1 and T3 are hardly excited, and the filling of and b, respectively. Unlike the TA spectra of free QDs, a broad
electrons at the 1se level in the CdSe shell is through exclusive induced absorption band centered at ∼680 nm was observed
excitation of T2, which generates the bleach signals at both T2 with a signal amplitude almost 2-fold larger than free QDs. This
and T3 bands (Figure 4). positive absorption is attributed to the formation of anion
2055 dx.doi.org/10.1021/jz3008886 | J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2012, 3, 2052−2058
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Letter
radical AQ¯ following the external charge separation. This external ET time (1/kEET) from the CdSe shell to AQ to be
assignment is consistent with the reported absorption spectrum <0.2 ps (within the limit of our instrument response function).
of AQ¯ in the literature,10,26 and confirms the occurrence of A similar external ET time was observed from a sample with 3-
external charge separation that produces a charge-separated fold less AQ, in agreement with the above estimation of 1−2
state ZnTe+/CdSe−AQ¯ with a hole in the ZnTe core and an AQs per QD (on average) in the presented data. The external
electron on AQ. Another TA feature in QD−AQ complexes ET kinetics (kEET > ∼5 ps−1) is at least 3 times faster than the
that is considerably different than free QDs is the depletion of internal ET kinetics (kIET = ∼1.4 ps−1), and hence the
the bleach signals at 500 and 600 nm bands (more than 5-fold population of ZnTe+/CdSe¯−AQ can be significantly sup-
less compared to free QDs). For free QDs, the TA signals at pressed in the charge separation process. This explains the
500 and 600 nm (T2 and T3 transitions) are mainly due to the observed depletion of bleach signals at the 500 (T3) and 600
filling of electrons in the 1se level in the CdSe shell after (T2) nm absorption bands in the TA spectra (Figure 5a,b).
internal ET. However, for the QD−AQ complex, the depletion Fitting the kinetics with 400 nm excitation yields a charge
of the bleach signals at T2 and T3 bands imply an ultrafast separation time of 0.71 ps, which is very close to the internal
external ET process. The remaining TA spectral signals at 500 ET time (0.67 ps), suggesting that the external charge
and 600 nm bands contain contributions mainly from the Stark- separation process is limited by the internal ET step when
effect-induced TA features.10,26−29 initiated from the ZnTe core. The averaged external charge
The Stark effect is generated in the charge separated state recombination time from AQ¯ to the hole in ZnTe/CdSe is
(ZnTe+/CdSe−AQ¯) where the electron on AQ and hole in found to be about 300 ps (1/kER) at both excitations.
the ZnTe core produce a local electric field and hence modulate The ultrafast external ET dynamics (<0.2 ps) from ZnTe/
the absorption spectrum of QDs, inducing corresponding CdSe type II QDs to AQs is at least 10-fold faster than those
bleach signals. This effect has been broadly observed and for CdTe/CdSe type II QDs (2.7 ps)10 or CdSe type I QDs
reported in bare CdSe QDs with surface trapped charges or in (3.4 ps)26 to the same AQ molecules with similar molecule-to-
an externally applied DC field,27−29 as well as CdSe/ZnS−AQ QD ratios. This can be caused by the high CB energy level of
and CdTe/CdSe−AQ ET systems.10,26 Furthermore, the ZnTe and the thin CdSe shell in ZnTe/CdSe type II QDs,
excitation of T1 with 400 nm light produces a shift of the which lead to a larger driving force (−ΔG) for the external ET.
bleach peak from 490 nm to 475 nm on the time scale of the A significantly enhanced ET rate induced by an increased
internal and external charge separation process in <2 ps (see driving force has been broadly observed in different ET
Figure 5a). This is due to the formation of the Stark effect and systems.30−32 For example, it was reported that an increase of
AQ¯ positive signal as the charge separation process proceeds. driving force from ca. −0.3 eV to ca. −0.9 eV (tuned by the size
With 585 nm excitation, the Stark-effect-induced bleach appears of QDs) led to a nearly 3 orders of magnitude enhancement in
at 475 nm at very early times due to the ultrafast external ET the ET rate from CdSe QDs to TiO2 nanoparticles.31 In the
that occurs in <0.2 ps (see Figure 5b). Similarly, a Stark effect studied ZnTe/CdSe−AQ complexes, the driving force for the
should also be present in ZnTe/CdSe QDs due to photoexcited external ET is calculated to be −0.9 eV, based upon the energy
charge carriers (a hole in ZnTe core and an electron in CdSe difference between the 1se level of the CdSe shell (−3.1 eV)
shell). However, the TA signals are dominated by the state- and the reduction potential of AQ (−4.0 eV). For comparison,
filling-induced features and the Stark-effect-induced signals are the driving force for external ET from the compared CdTe/
relatively much smaller and therefore not observed in the TA CdSe type II QDs to AQ (with an external ET time of 2.7 ps) is
spectra shown in Figures 3 and 4. only ca. −0.2 eV.10 An order of magnitude improvement in the
The TA kinetics probed at 680 nm (absorption of AQ¯) with ET dynamics (0.2 ps in ZnTe/CdSe vs 2.7 ps in CdTe/CdSe)
400 and 585 nm excitations are plotted and compared in Figure should therefore be caused by the large increase in the driving
5c,d. These kinetics indicate the external charge separation force.
(signal formation) and recombination (signal decay) processes. It should also be noted that the external charge
The whole charge separation process in the QD−AQ complex recombination dynamics (∼300 ps) from AQ¯ to the hole in
can be understood from the following reaction: the studied ZnTe/CdSe QDs is 2 orders of magnitude faster
than that (92 ns) in the compared CdTe/CdSe type II QDs.10y
This is caused by the thinner CdSe shell in ZnTe/CdSe QDs.
The electron on AQ recombines with the hole confined in the
core by tunneling through the CdSe shell. Therefore, the charge
recombination dynamics are mainly determined by the
thickness of the CdSe shell, which is 0.6 nm in the studied
ZnTe/CdSe QD and 1.6 nm in the compared CdTe/CdSe
With 400 nm excitation, the external charge separation starts QDs. While considering the practical applications of these type
from the ZnTe core, including both internal ET (from ZnTe to II materials in photodriven reductions, a thin shell should be
CdSe) and external ET (from CdSe to AQ) steps. However, preferred for the fast regeneration of the holes in the core to
with 585 nm excitation, the external charge separation process quickly bring the materials back to a neutral state. We note that
starts from the CdSe shell and includes only the external ET the CdSe shell thickness can be adjusted to permit longer
step. As shown in Figure 5d, the kinetics using 585 nm charge recombination times if the specific photocatalytic
excitation are faster than those observed using 400 nm process requires more time for the charge separated state to
excitation, indicating a faster charge separation process. These be available.
kinetics are similar in the decay region (Figure 5c) because they The above-discussed ultrafast charge separation and
follow the same charge recombination process from AQ¯ to the recombination dynamics indicate attractive advantages in the
hole in the ZnTe core. These kinetics are well fit according to ZnTe/CdSe core/shell type II QDs. First, the ZnTe/CdSe
eq S4. Fitting the kinetics with 585 nm excitation yields the QDs still maintain the benefits from the type II energy
2056 dx.doi.org/10.1021/jz3008886 | J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2012, 3, 2052−2058
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters Letter
alignment. They have a long charge carrier lifetime relative to (4) Sitt, A.; Della Sala, F.; Menagen, G.; Banin, U. Multiexciton
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ASSOCIATED CONTENT (14) Zhang, J.; Jin, S. Y.; Fry, H. C.; Peng, S.; Shevchenko, E.;
*
S Supporting Information Wiederrecht, G. P.; Rajh, T. Synthesis and Characterization of
Synthesis and experimental setup, SEM images, fluorescence Wurtzite ZnTe Nanorods with Controllable Aspect Ratios. J. Am.
decay, electron and hole distribution function, details of TA Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 15324−15327.
analysis, and UV−vis absorption spectrum. This material is (15) Zhang, J.; Sun, K.; Kumbhar, A.; Fang, J. Y. Shape-Control of
available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org. ZnTe Nanocrystal Growth in Organic Solution. J. Phys. Chem. C 2008,
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112, 5454−5458.
(16) Bang, J.; Park, J.; Lee, J. H.; Won, N.; Nam, J.; Lim, J.; Chang, B.
AUTHOR INFORMATION Y.; Lee, H. J.; Chon, B.; Shin, J.; et al. ZnTe/ZnSe (Core/Shell) Type-
Corresponding Author II Quantum Dots: Their Optical and Photovoltaic Properties. Chem.
*E-mail: rajh@anl.gov (T.R.); wiederrecht@anl.gov (G.P.W.). Mater. 2010, 22, 233−240.
(17) Kaniyankandy, S.; Rawalekar, S.; Verma, S.; Ghosh, H. N.
Author Contributions Ultrafast Hole Transfer in CdSe/ZnTe Type II Core−Shell
∥
These authors contributed equally. Nanostructure. J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 1428−1435.
Notes (18) Wang, C.-H.; Chen, C.-W.; Wei, C.-M.; Chen, Y.-F.; Lai, C.-W.;
The authors declare no competing financial interest. Ho, M.-L.; Chou, P.-T. Resonant Energy Transfer between CdSe/ZnS
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Type I and CdSe/ZnTe Type II Quantum Dots. J. Phys. Chem. C
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2009, 113, 15548−15552.
(19) Rawalekar, S.; Kaniyankandy, S.; Verma, S.; Ghosh, H. N. Effect
S.J. acknowledges support for a postdoctoral fellowship from of Surface States on Charge-Transfer Dynamics in Type II CdTe/
the ANSER Center, an Energy Frontier Research Center ZnTe Core-Shell Quantum Dots: A Femtosecond Transient
funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Absorption Study. J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 12335−12342.
Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award Number DE- (20) Kumar, S.; Jones, M.; Lo, S. S.; Scholes, G. D. Nanorod
SC0001059. Use of the Center for Nanoscale Materials, and Heterostructures Showing Photoinduced Charge Separation. Small
support of J.Z., R.S., T.R., and G.P.W., is funded by the U.S. 2007, 3, 1633−1639.
Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy (21) Hewa-Kasakarage, N. N.; Kirsanova, M.; Nemchinov, A.;
Schmall, N.; El-Khoury, P. Z.; Tarnovsky, A. N.; Zamkov, M. Radiative
Sciences through Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.
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Recombination of Spatially Extended Excitons in (ZnSe/CdS)/CdS
Heterostructured Nanorods. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 1328−1334.
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