Enhanced photocurrent generation with quantum dots containing multilayers on gold

Quantum dots (QD) immobilised on electrodes show a light-triggered current depending on the applied potential. In this study it is investigated whether multiple layers of QD can be formed on electrodes and used for an enhanced photocurrent generation. Therefore multilayers of QD and the redox protein cytochrome c (cyt c) are constructed verified by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. The voltammetric investigation of these multilayer assemblies shows no enhancement of the redox signal from cyt c in contrast to multilayers of cyt c and polyelectrolytes or gold nanoparticles. But photocurrent measurements reveal a slight enhancement of the signal which is depending on the number of deposited QD layers. In a second step QD multilayers with a positively charged polyelectrolyte are built up verified by QCM. Chronoamperometric investigations reveal an increase of the photocurrent which is proportional to the number of deposited layers. This indicates an efficient electron transfer between the QD layers. At an electrode with 5 bilayers (QD and polyallylamine) the light-induced current is increased about 5 times compared to a monolayer.