Electron injection from colloidal PbS quantum dots into titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Injection of photoexcited electrons from colloidal PbS quantum dots into TiO(2) nanoparticles is investigated. The electron affinity and ionization potential of PbS quantum dots, inferred from cyclic voltammetry measurements, show strong size dependence due to quantum confinement. On the basis of the measured energy levels, photoexcited electrons should transfer efficiently from the quantum dots into TiO(2) only for quantum-dot diameter below approximately 4.