This dissertation describes modifications to the surface of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) to improve their use as photocatalysts for charge transfer reactions. The surface atoms and ligands of these nanoparticles can interfere with direct charge transfer to a reagent by inhibiting binding, forming trap states, or acting as competitive...
This dissertation describes the fundamental studies of photoinduced charge-carrier transfer from colloidal metal chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) to surface-adsorbed molecular redox partners. In addition, we also present the use of visible-light absorbing QDs in photocatalytic applications. CdS QDs are used as photocatalysts in a C-C coupling reaction, in which no...