Photogeneration Quantum Yield and Character of Free Charges and Excitons in PbSe Nanorods

Lead selenide (PbSe) nanorods are of interest for applications in infrared LEDs, lasers, and photovoltaics due to the possibility of tuning their band gap from the far- to the near-infrared by decreasing their radius. We study the photogeneration quantum yield and properties of free charges and excitons in PbSe nanorods using a combination of time-resolved transient optical absorption and terahertz spectroscopy. Photoexcitation predominantly leads to the formation of excitons and to a smaller extent to free mobile charges. Theoretical analysis of the exprimental data yields an exciton polarizability of 10–³⁵ C m² V–¹. The sum of the mobilities of a free electron and a hole is found to be close to 100 cm² V–¹ s–¹. The high quantum yield of excitons makes PbSe nanorods of interest as a gain material in near-infrared LEDs or lasers. To use PbSe nanorods in photovoltaics, heterojunctions must be realized so that excitons can dissociate into free charges.