The launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on March 1. Photo / John Tylko
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on March 13, 2002 (download PDF).
This illustration shows a lead sulfide quantum dot array. Each quantum dot (the colored clusters) is 'passivated' by molecules that bind to its surface. Dots that are made up of unequal amounts of lead and sulfur tend to cause electrons (shown in red) to become highly localized, which can substantially lower the electrical transport of the device.Image: Donghun Kim and Jeffrey C. Grossman
Balance is key to making quantum-dot solar cells work
MIT team finds that the ratio of component atoms is vital to performance.
