Colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are nanometer-scale semiconductor particles synthesized in and processed from solution. This allows the use of NC inks to be coated easily onto variety of substrates for the use in various applications. Additionally, NCs exhibit quantum size effect tunability. This allows the absorption range of NC films to be tuned, based simply on NC size, across the entire solar spectrum.

Our interdisciplinary research on NCs synthesis spans investigating novel earth-abundant compounds, materials design and their application in energy harvesting devices such as thin film solar cells, solar as well as electrochemical water splitting. We are working on the synthesis of variety of NCs such as Cu2SnS3, Cu2ZnSnS4, Cu-Sb-S, Ni2P, FeP, CoP via simple and scalable one-pot heat approach using environmental benign solvents to avoid the use of toxic and flammable amine-based solvents. We have also successfully demonstrated the applicability of these NCs in thin film solar cells, and solar water splitting so far.

Chem. Mater., 2016, 28, 3308–3317

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 19777-19788

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 4695-4709