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Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have gained significant attention due to their tunable band gap, simple solution processability, ease of scale-up, and low cost. By carefully choosing the materials, core-shell heterostructure QDs (HQDs) can be further synthesized with a controlled spatial spread of wave functions of the excited electrons and holes for various applications. Many investigations have been done to understand the exciton dynamics by optical characterizations. However, these spectroscopic data demonstrate that the spatial separation of the excitons cannot distinguish the distribution of excited electrons and holes. In this work, we report a simple and direct method to determine the localized holes and delocalized electrons in HQDs. The quasi-type-II CdSe-CdS core-shell QDs were synthesized via a thermolysis method. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofiber and ZnO nanorods were selected as hole and electron conductor materials, respectively, and were combined with HQDs to form two different nanocomposites. Photoelectrical properties were evaluated under different environments via a quick and facile characterization method, confirming that the electrons in the HQDs were freely accessible at the surface of the nanocrystal, while the holes were confined within the CdSe core., Publication no: A3584

Single-crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) have been synthesized through a chemical bath deposition method. Their diameter is about 80 nm, and their length range from 1 μm to 7 μm can be controlled by growth time. Formation of nanoflower arrays composed of nanorods has been also achieved utilizing a standard micro-fabrication technique. Two types of ZnO nanorods devices are detailed to demonstrate their optoelectronic applications., QC 20140909

ZnO nanorods (NRs) sensors utilizing hybrid or monolithic integration of the NRs on nanoscale or microscale interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) were fabricated and characterized. The IDEs with their finger electrode width ranging from 50 nm to 3 μm were formed on SiO2/Si substrates by nanoimprint lithography or conventional photolithography and metallization techniques, whereas the ZnO NRs were grown by chemical synthesis method. The average diameter of the ZnO NRs is about 100 nm, and their length can be varied from 2 to 5 μm by controlling growth time. When sensing targets, such as molecules or nanoparticles, bind onto the ZnO NRs, the conductance between IDEs will change. As probing test, II-VI quantum dots (QDs) were attached on the ZnO NRs, and clear responses were obtained by measuring and comparing current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of the sensor before and after binding the QDs., QC 20140919