Manipulation of Phase-Transfer Ligand Exchange Dynamics of PbS Quantum Dots for Efficient Infrared Photovoltaics

Chemical surface treatment of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) by phase-transfer ligand exchange (PTLE) is essential to implement highly densified, well-passivated CQD films for optoelectronic applications, such as infrared photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes and photodetectors. The PTLE, however, involves parallel and interactional processes of ligand exchange, phase transfer, and surface passivation of CQDs, which renders the optimization of PTLE still challenging. Herein, we explored the action mechanism of a widely-used additive, ammonium acetate (AA), on the PTLE of PbS CQDs in order to recognize the dynamic balance during the PTLE process and its impact on the performance of colloidal quantum dot solar cells (CQDSCs). Our research definitely shows that AA additive can modify the dynamics of PTLE by participating in all the three processes, and the amount of AA significantly influences the defect passivation and colloidal stability of PbS CQDs. At an appropriate concentration (~50 mM) of AA, PbS CQDs a...