ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on quantum dots (QDs) of the lead chalcogenides and silicon and shows that they can produce multiple excitons from single photons of appropriate energy. It discusses photogenerated carrier dynamics in QDs, including the issues and controversies related to the cooling of hot carriers in QDs. The chapter also discusses applications of QDs and QD arrays in novel photon conversion devices, such as QD solar cells, where multiple exciton generation from single photons could yield significantly higher solar conversion efficiencies. The most common approach to the synthesis of colloidal QDs is the controlled nucleation and growth of particles in a solution of chemical precursors containing the metal and the anion sources. A common method for II-VI colloidal QD formation is to rapidly inject a solution of chemical reagents containing the group II and group VI species into a hot and vigorously stirred solvent containing molecules that can coordinate with the surface of the precipitated QD particles.
