Photocurrent Induced by Nonradiative Energy Transfer from Nanocrystal Quantum Dots to Adjacent Silicon Nanowire Conducting Channels: Toward a New Solar Cell Paradigm

We report the observation of photocurrent in silicon nanowires induced by nonradiative resonant energy transfer (NRET) from adjacent layers of lead sulfide nanocrystal quantum dots using time-resolved photocurrent measurements. This demonstration supports the feasibility of a new solar cell paradigm (Lu, S.; Madhukar, A. Nano Lett. 2007, 7, 3443-3451) that exploits NRET between efficient photon absorbers and adjacent nanowire/quantum well high-mobility charge transport channels and could offer a viable alternative to the limitations of carrier transport and collection faced by excitonic solar cells.