Work

Upconverted Hot Electrons and Solvated Electrons from Mn-Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals for Photochemistry: Perspective

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Hot electrons photogenerated in semiconductor nanocrystals enable powerful redox reactivity due to their large excess energy and their capability for long-range transfer over high energy barriers. Among various strategies for hot electron generation, Mn-mediated Auger upconversion in Mn-doped semiconductor nanocrystals has emerged as a particularly effective method. This process generates hot electrons with large excess energies, a fraction of which can even exceed the vacuum level, enabling their emission as free electrons into the vacuum or their injection into surrounding liquid media to form reactive solvated electrons. These unique properties of the upconverted hot electrons open new pathways for driving thermodynamically and kinetically demanding reactions in various liquid media. This Perspective discusses recent advances in Mn-mediated hot electron upconversion, diverse chemical transformations enabled by upconverted hot electrons, and the important issues that need to be addressed to harness the full potential of upconverted hot electron-driven photochemistry.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c03858

Authors: Connor Orrison, Ian Murray, Dong Hee Son

Institutions: Texas A&M University, Yonsei University, Institute for Basic Science

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funders: National Science Foundation, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems