Metal domain size dependent electrical transport in Pt-CdSe hybrid nanoparticle monolayers

TL;DR

This study investigates how platinum domain size influences electrical transport in CdSe nanoparticle monolayers, demonstrating tunable conductivity and charge transport mechanisms for potential electronic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to precisely decorate CdSe nanoparticles with platinum domains and explores the transition from semiconductor to metal conduction in hybrid films.

Findings

Transition from semiconductor to metal conduction observed

Dark currents are tunable by platinum content

Charge transport mechanisms characterized

Abstract

Thin films prepared of semiconductor nanoparticles are promising for low-cost electronic applications such as transistors and solar cells. One hurdle for their breakthrough is their notoriously low conductivity. To address this, we precisely decorate CdSe nanoparticles with platinum domains of one to three nanometers in diameter by a facile and robust seeded growth method. We demonstrate the transition from semiconductor to metal dominated conduction in monolayered films. By adjusting the platinum content in such solution-processable hybrid, oligomeric nanoparticles the dark currents through deposited arrays become tunable while maintaining electronic confinement and photoconductivity. Comprehensive electrical measurements allow determining the reigning charge transport mechanisms.