Colloidal Semiconductor Nanostructures for Light-Harvesting and Beyond

Dear Colleagues,

Colloidal semiconductor nanostructures are outstanding materials with optical and electronic properties which are tunable via size and dimensionality due to quantum confinement effects. Further, heterostructures combining domains of different semiconductor materials within one particle offer additional adjustability with respect to spatial confinement or delocalization and separation of charge carriers. These properties can be exploited to tailor structures for optimal harvesting of light in a large part of the visible spectrum and for support of efficient separation of charges, which is the fundament for the application of these materials for light harvesting. The scope of this Special Issue is to cover the recent progress and advances in the research on designing colloidal semiconductor nanostructures and their application for light harvesting, e.g., in assemblies for light-driven catalysis or in photovoltaic devices. Reports on synthesis, characterization, device integration, and application will be collected in this issue. Further, insight from spectroscopic investigations on charge-carrier dynamics and computational studies are highly welcome. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• Synthesis of colloidal nanostructures and functionalization with cocatalysts;
• Generation of nanoparticle/polymer hybrid materials;
• Self-assembly and deposition of layered structures;
• Theoretical studies and modeling;
• Spectroscopic characterization;
• Electrochemical characterization;
• Charge-carrier dynamics;
• Multiple exciton generation;
• Plasmonic effects;
• Device integration.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit communications, full papers or reviews to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Maria​ Wächtler
Guest Editor

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