Electron Transfer in Quantum-Dot-Sensitized ZnO Nanowires: Ultrafast Time-Resolved Absorption and Terahertz Study

Photoinduced electron injection dynamics from CdSe quantum dots to ZnO nanowires is studied by transient absorption and time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy measurements. Ultrafast electron transfer from the CdSe quantum dots to ZnO is proven to be efficient already on a picoseconds time scale (τ = 3–12 ps). The measured kinetics was found to have a two-component character, whose origin is discussed in detail. The obtained results suggest that electrons are injected into ZnO via an intermediate charge transfer state.