Quasi-bound state theory of field-dependent photogeneration from polymer-embedded nanoparticles

A quantum mechanical model of field-dependent photogeneration from polymer-embedded nanoparticles is presented. In this formalism, the rate of escape of a photocreated charge from the nanoparticle into the surrounding polymer matrix is found by calculating the lifetime of its quasi-bound state (QBS) wavefunction. The theory is used to model some typical nanoparticles: CdSe and CdS quantum dots and a CdSe-CdS core/shell nanostructure. It is found that the QBS lifetime undergoes a rapid collapse at critical values of applied field, resulting in a sudden increase in photogeneration efficiency.