Controlling potential landscape of heterostructured nanocrystals with interfacial polarization

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Abstract
The potential profile and the energy level offset of core/shell heterostructured nanocrystals (h-NCs) determine the photophysical properties and the charge transport characteristics of h-NC solids. However, limited material choices for heavy metal-free III-V/II-VI h-NCs pose challenges in comprehensive control of the potential profile. Herein, we present an unprecedented approach to such control by steering dipole moments at the interface of III-V/II-VI h-NCs. The controllable heterovalency at the interface is responsible for interfacial dipole moments that result in the vacuum-level shift, providing an additional knob for the control of optical and electrical characteristics of h-NCs. We capitalize on the atomic precision with which to synthesize h-NCs by correlating interfacial dipole moments to photochemical stability and optoelectronic performance of resulting h-NCs.