Publication date: 15th May 2025
Implementation of QDs in photocatalytic systems requires the efficient separation and removal of charges in photogenerated excitons. While the extraction of electrons from the conduction band of photoexcited QDs has been extensively studied, efficient strategies for the transfer of holes remain underdeveloped. In this study we show how ligand density on CdSe QDs surface impacts hole transfer efficiency. By using increasing equivalents of Meerwein’s salt, a known stripping reagent, we show how the surface of OA-CdSe QDs becomes more accessible to polyoxovanadate alkoxide clusters V6O71-. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence together with transient absorption spectroscopy measurements helped to elucidate hole transfer dynamics in the system. Our results demonstrate quantitatively the surface manipulation as a tool for enhancing hole transfer in colloidal nanocrystals, making a valuable approach for the use of QDs as photocatalysts.