Semiconductor Nanocrystal Light Absorbers for Photon Upconversion

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) can initiate energy and charge transfer in multiple applications with their unique optical and electronic properties. In particular, NCs are excellent light absorbers for initiating triplet energy transfer (TET) to organic molecules, a key step in triplet-fusion-based photon upconversion. Triplet energy transfer across this inorganic-organic interface is one of the bottlenecks that currently limits the overall photon upconversion quantum yield. In this Perspective, we summarize the progress made in the past three years on this hybrid photon upconversion platform. We discuss the effects of NC size, composition, and surface states on TET. Nanocrystal surface engineering may address the loss mechanisms arising from defect states and exciton-phonon coupling. Alternative materials for NC triplet photosensitizers that do not contain toxic heavy metals will be especially useful for various biological applications.