Exciton escape in CdSe core-shell quantum dots: Implications for the development of nanocrystal solar cells

We investigate the tunneling escape of confined excitons in CdSe core-shell quantum dots by means of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. Our results indicate that obtaining efficient charge extraction strongly depends on the interplay between parameters such as nanocrystal sizes, shell thicknesses, external electric fields, and confinement barrier heights.