DGIST researchers develop eco-friendly quantum dots for solar hydrogen

Researchers at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), in collaboration with Konkuk University, have developed a method to improve hydrogen production using eco-friendly quantum dots. The study, published in the journal eScience, focuses on using I–III–VI semiconductors as alternatives to toxic heavy-metal quantum dots like cadmium or lead.

To overcome performance issues caused by anion vacancies in copper-indium-sulfur-selenium quantum dots, the team utilized a composition-driven strategy. By adjusting the sulfur-to-selenium ratio, they were able to modulate anion vacancy concentrations without altering particle size or cation stoichiometry. The research found that an equimolar sulfur-selenium balance results in the lowest vacancy density, significantly enhancing optoelectronic properties and photoelectrochemical performance for solar hydrogen production.