Investigation of Germanium Quantum Dots in Photovoltaics and near-IR Detectors

Germanium quantum dots (Ge QDs) are thought to be potential candidates for future semiconductor applications, such as solar cells, photodetectors, and transistors. Here, we investigate the optoelectronic characteristics for a new synthesis technique for colloidal monodisperse Ge QDs. Specifically, we have fabricated neat films and solar cell devices using a spectrum of Ge QDs, varied by size and synthesis method, and have characterized their optical and optoelectronic properties to assess their promise as photovoltaics and photodetectors.