Bulk transport and interfacial transfer dynamics of photogenerated carriers in CdSe quantum dot solid electrodes.

Practical solar-to-fuel conversion applications of quantum-confined semiconductor crystals require their integration into electrodes. We show that photogenerated electrons in quantum dot solid electrodes can be transported to the aqueous interface to reduce methyl viologen with 100% quantum efficiency and an effective time constant of 12 ± 2 ps. The charge separated state had a half-life of 200 ± 10 ns, limited by hole transport within the solid.