Superatomic molecules with internal electric fields for light harvesting.
Nanoscale
; 12(7): 4736-4742, 2020 Feb 21.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32049078
Traditional p-n junctions used for photovoltaics require an interface where a light induced electron-hole pair is separated by an electric field. Developing alternative strategies for forming strong internal electric fields for electron-hole pair separation offers the possibility for better performance. We demonstrate that fusing two superatomic clusters with donor/acceptor ligands on opposite sides of the cluster leads to such a strong internal electric field. In two fused metal-chalcogenide Re6S8Cl2(L)4 clusters with donor PMe3 ligands and acceptor CO ligands on the opposite sides of the fused clusters, the electronic levels undergo shifts analogous to band bending in traditional p-n junctions. The fused cluster has a large dipole moment, and an optical spectrum that strongly absorbs excitation above the HOMO-LUMO gap of the fused clusters, but is optically very weak for the lowest energy excitation that can lead to electron-hole pair recombination. This is because the electron is localized on the CO portion of the fused cluster, while the electron-hole pair is localized on the PMe3 side of the cluster. It is shown that the electronic states localized on each side of the cluster can be aligned/misaligned by applying a voltage in different directions, offering diode like characteristics.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nanoscale
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido