(21a) Solution Processable Semiconductors Based on Molecular and Nanoscale Precursors

Dispersions of molecular or nanoscale precursors such as chalcogenidometallates and colloidal quantum dots are currently being explored as solution processable precursors to semiconducting films. Solution-based processing can provide enormous cost benefits for large-area and high-volume electronic applications such as thin-film transistors, photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics. We recently reported the synthesis of large-grained (>500 nm) CdTe thin films from colloidal quantum dot precursors that were integrated into photovoltaic devices with >12% power conversion efficiency.¹ I will summarize our recent efforts in creating semiconducting solids from solution-processable precursors and their applications in electronic devices.

1. M. G. Panthani, J. M. Kurley, R. W. Crisp, T. C. Dietz, T. Ezzyat, J. M. Luther, D. V. Talapin. High Efficiency Solution Processed Sintered CdTe Nanocrystal Solar Cells: The Role of Interfaces. Nano Letters 2014, 14, 670–675.