Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells are fabricated in which the compositions of the light-absorbing layer and the electron-accepting layer are selected such that at least one side of the junction between these two layers is substantially depleted of charge carriers, i.e., both free electrons and free holes, in the absence of solar illumination. In further aspects of the invention, the light-absorbing layer is comprised of dual-shell passivated quantum dots, each having a quantum dot core with surface anions, an inner shell containing cations to passivate the core surface anions, and an outer shell to passivate the inner shell anions and anions on the core surface.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Photovoltaic nanocomposite and solar cell device including the photovoltaic nanocomposite, where the photovoltaic nanocomposite includes a film of solution processed semiconductor materials having an n-type material selected from n-type quantum dots and n-type nanocrystals, and a p-type material selected from p-type quantum dots and p-type nanocrystals, and where the n-type material has a conduction band level at least equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the p-type material, the p-type material has a valence band at the most equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the n-type material. at least a portion of the n-type material and at least a portion of the p-type material are present in a bulk nano-heterojunction binary nanocomposite layer having a blend of the n-type material and the p-type material.

Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus, such as a photodetector apparatus comprising a substrate (1), a dielectric layer (2), a transport layer, and a photosensitizing layer (5). The transport layer comprises at least a 2-dimensional semiconductor layer (3), such as MoS2, and the photosensitizing layer (5) comprises colloidal quantum dots. Enhanced responsivity and extended spectral coverage are achieved with the disclosed structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides of a three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure, a method of producing same, and the application of this structure towards the realization of photodetecting and photovoltaic devices working in the visible and the near-infrared. The three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes two interpenetrating layers which are spatially continuous, they are include only protrusions or peninsulas, and no islands. The method of producing the three-dimensional biocontinuous heterostructure relies on forming an essentially planar continuous bottom layer of a first material; forming a layer of this first material on top of the bottom layer which is textured to produce protrusions for subsequent interpenetration with a second material, coating this second material onto this structure; and forming a final coating with the second material that ensures that only the second material is contacted by subsequent layer.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Photovoltaic nanocomposite and solar cell device including the photovoltaic nanocomposite, where the photovoltaic nanocomposite includes a film of solution processed semiconductor materials having an n-type material selected from n-type quantum dots and n-type nanocrystals, and a p-type material selected from p-type quantum dots and p-type nanocrystals, and where the n-type material has a conduction band level at least equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the p-type material, the p-type material has a valence band at the most equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the n-type material. at least a portion of the n-type material and at least a portion of the p-type material are present in a bulk nano-heterojunction binary nanocomposite layer having a blend of the n-type material and the p-type material.

Abstract: The present invention provides of a three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure, a method of producing same, and the application of this structure towards the realization of photodetecting and photovoltaic devices working in the visible and the near-infrared. The three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes two interpenetrating layers which are spatially continuous, they are include only protrusions or peninsulas, and no islands. The method of producing the three-dimensional biocontinuous heterostructure relies on forming an essentially planar continuous bottom layer of a first material; forming a layer of this first material on top of the bottom layer which is textured to produce protrusions for subsequent interpenetration with a second material, coating this second material onto this structure; and forming a final coating with the second material that ensures that only the second material is contacted by subsequent layer.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure, a method of producing same, and the application of this structure. The three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes two interpenetrating layers which are spatially continuous, include only protrusions or peninsulas, and have no islands. The method of producing the three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes forming an essentially planar continuous bottom layer of a first material; forming a layer of this first material on top of the bottom layer that is textured to produce protrusions for subsequent interpenetration with a second material, coating this second material onto this structure, and forming a coating with the second material that ensures that only the second material is contacted by subsequent layer. One of the materials includes visible and/or infrared-absorbing semiconducting quantum dot nanoparticles, and one of materials is a hole conductor and the other is an electron conductor.

Abstract: Various embodiment include optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit having an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. Additional devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses including optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. One such device includes an image sensor having an integrated circuit with a number of pixel electrodes, a substantially-continuous optically-sensitive layer, and at least one counter-electrode. The substantially continuous optically sensitive layer is in electrical communication with both the number of pixel electrodes and also the counter-electrode. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit an array of conductive regions; and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a method of forming a nanocrystalline film includes fabricating a plurality of nanocrystals having a plurality of first ligands attached to their outer surfaces; exchanging the first ligands for second ligands of different chemical composition than the first ligands; forming a film of the ligand-exchanged nanocrystals; removing the second ligands; and fusing the cores of adjacent nanocrystals in the film to form an electrical network of fused nanocrystals.

Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure, a method of producing same, and the application of this structure. The three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes two interpenetrating layers which are spatially continuous, include only protrusions or peninsulas, and have no islands. The method of producing the three-dimensional bicontinuous heterostructure includes forming an essentially planar continuous bottom layer of a first material; forming a layer of this first material on top of the bottom layer that is textured to produce protrusions for subsequent interpenetration with a second material, coating this second material onto this structure, and forming a coating with the second material that ensures that only the second material is contacted by subsequent layer. One of the materials includes visible and/or infrared-absorbing semiconducting quantum dot nanoparticles, and one of materials is a hole conductor and the other is an electron conductor.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an optical device includes an integrated circuit, an array of conductive regions, and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region. In another example embodiment, a method of forming a nanocrystalline film includes fabricating nanocrystals having a plurality of first ligands attached to their outer surfaces, exchanging the first ligands for second ligands of a different chemical composition, forming a film of the ligand-exchanged nanocrystals, removing the second ligands, and fusing the cores of adjacent nanocrystals in the film to form an electrical network of fused nanocrystals. In another example embodiment, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals with at least portions of the fused nanocrystals being in direct physical contact with adjacent nanocrystals, the film having substantially no defect states in regions where cores of the nanocrystals are fused.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatuses including optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. One such device includes an image sensor having an integrated circuit with a number of pixel electrodes, a substantially-continuous optically-sensitive layer, and at least one counter-electrode. The substantially continuous optically sensitive layer is in electrical communication with both the number of pixel electrodes and also the counter-electrode. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.