Optoelectronic properties in quantum-confined germanium dots

Photocurrent generation of nanometric Ge dots has been investigated by using electrochemical measurements. Photocurrent features have been ascribed, for large Ge dots, to Ge bulk direct electronic transitions at L and X points as evidenced by their close correspondence with the optical absorption coefficient. A blueshift of the photocurrent features has been detected by reducing the Ge dot size. These changes have been interpreted as due to quantum confinement effect. This result suggests that Ge dots could be applied in photovoltaic nanodevices and quantum dot based lasers. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.