
Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials
Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Konstantatos
- Activities:
We employ advances in nanoscience and we transform them into nanotechnology in solving real-world problems that current technology cannot address or do so at an affordable cost for the benefit of the society. We are doing so by assembling a group of physicists, chemists and engineers to tackle complex, interdisciplinary problems. We focus on novel functional nanomaterials, nanostructures and devices for optoelectronics and renewable energy applications.
Our main scope is on the development of low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells employing nanostructured materials of low toxicity and high abundance to address the TW challenge. We also exploit optical phenomena that emerge in the nanoscale to break long-standing trade-offs in solar cells and photodetectors. We study optoelectronically active plasmonic structures that may allow for ultra-thin low cost solar cells and ultra-sensitive photodetectors.
- Selected Publications List:
- A. K. Rath, M. Bernechea, L. Martinez, F. P. Garcia de Arquer, J. Osmond, G. Konstantatos, “Solution-processed inorganic bulk nano-heterojunctions and their application to solar cells”, Nature Photonics, 6, 529-534, 2012
- G. Konstantatos, M. Badioli, L. Gaudreau, J. Osmond, M. Bernechea, F. P. Garcia de Arquer, F. Gatti, F. H. L. Koppens, “Hybrid graphene–quantum dot phototransistors with ultrahigh gain”, Nature Nanotechnology,7, 363-368, 2012
- G. Konstantatos, E.H. Sargent, “Nanostructured materials for photon detection”, Nature Nanotechnology 5, 391–400,2010
- Jason Clifford, G. Konstantatos, Sjoerd Hoogland, Larissa Levina, Edward Sargent, “Fast, Sensitive, Spectrally-Tunable Solution-Processed Photodiodes”, Nature Nanotechnology, 4, 40-44, 2009.
- G. Konstantatos, Jason Clifford, Larissa Levina, Edward H. Sargent, “Sensitive Solution-processed Visible-Wavelength Photodetectors”, Nature Photonics, 1, 531-534, 2007.
- G. Konstantatos, Ian Howard, Armin Fischer, Sjoerd Hoogland, Jason Clifford, Ethan J. D. Klem, Larissa Levina, Edward H. Sargent, “Ultrasensitive solution-cast quantum dot photodetectors”, Nature, 442, 180-183, 2006.
- S. A. McDonald, G. Konstantatos, S. Zhang, P. W. Cyr, E. J. D. Klem, L. Levina, E. H. Sargent, “Solution-processed PbS quantum dot infrared photodetectors and photovoltaics”, Nature Materials, 4(2), 138-142, 2005.
- Projects:
- Plasmonically-enhanced-sensitivity colloidal quantum dot photodetectors. Collaborators: Romain Quidant
- Solution-processed solar cells based on non-toxic, high abundance colloidal nanocrystals
- Intersubband-transition-based colloidal quantum dot detectors and emitters
2 PhD-fellowships available:
- PhD-Student position in Infrared Photodetectors and Sensors based on Quantum Dot and 2D Materials
- PhD-Student position in novel optoelectronic applications exploiting intersubband transitions in colloidal quantum dots.
- Position(s) Available:
- Post-doctoral positions in Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials
- Post-doctoral position in new generation of Mid and Long Wave infrared photodetectors and Bolometers
- Post-doctoral position on sensitized Graphene and 2D material photodetectors in the mid and long wave infrared
- Available Resources:
- UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer
- FTIR spectrometer
- Solar simulator
- Spectral EQE measurement setup
- Probe-station and semiconductor parameter analyzer
- Optoelectronic device characterization equipment
- Wet chemistry synthesis and processing lab
- Research Topics:
- Novel Architectures For Solution-processed Nanocrystal Solar Cells
- Novel Environmentally Friendly Nanomaterials
- Plasmonic Nano Optoelectronics
- Hybrid Graphene – Quantum Dot Optoelectronics
- Graphene Photo-transistors With Ultra-high Gain
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Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials
Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Konstantatos


- Group Leader
- Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Konstantatos
- Postdoctoral Researchers
- Dr. Yu Bi
- Dr. Ignasi Burgués
- Dr. Sotirios Christodoulou
- Dr. Alberto Figueroba
- Dr. Nengjie Huo
- Dr. Biswajit Kundu
- Dr. Santanu Pradhan
- Dr. Iñigo Ramiro González
- Dr. Avijit Saha
- Research Engineers
- Dr. Mariona Dalmases
- Dr. Stijn Goossens
- Dr. Shuchi Gupta
- Gabriel Mercier
- PhD Students
- Mehmet Zafer Akgul
- Shanti Maria Liga
- Shanmukh Naidu Majji
- Onur Özdemir
- Diana Rueda Delgado
- Yongjie Wang
- Visiting Scientists
- Dr. Yujue Yang
- Former Group Members
- Fiona Jean Beck, Postdoctoral researcher
- María Bernechea, Research fellow
- Yiming Cao, Postdoctoral researcher
- Francesco Di Stasio, Research fellow
- Silke Luzia Diedenhofen, Postdoctoral researcher
- Francisco Pelayo García, PhD student
- Dominik Kufer, PhD student
- Tania Lasanta, Research engineer
- Helmut Mäckel, Research fellow
- Beatriz Martín, Visiting scientist
- Luis Martínez, PhD student
- Agustín Mihi, Research fellow
- Nichole Cates Miller, Postdoctoral researcher
- Nosipho Moloto, Visiting scientist
- Arup Kumar Rath, Postdoctoral researcher
- David Tan So, PhD student
- Alexandros Stavrinadis, Research fellow
- Óscar Vázquez, Postdoctoral researcher
- Jianjun Wang, Research engineer
- Guillem Xercavins, Research engineer
- Xiaojie Yang, Postdoctoral researcher
Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials
Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Konstantatos

- Regular Papers
- High-efficiency colloidal quantum dot infrared light-emitting diodes via engineering at the supra-nanocrystalline level Nature Nanotechnol. 14, 72-79 (2019)
- Current status and technological prospect of photodetectors based on two-dimensional materials Nature Commun. 9, 5266 (2018)
- High-efficiency light-emitting diodes based on formamidinium lead bromide nanocrystals and solution processed transport layers Chem. Mater. 30, 6231-6235 (2018)
- Recent progress and future prospects of 2D-based photodetectors Adv. Mater. 1801164, 1-27 (2018)
- High carrier mobility in monolayer CVD-grown MoS2 through phonon suppression Nanoscale 10, 15071-15077 (2018)
- White and brightly colored 3D printing based on resonant photothermal sensitizers Nano Lett. 18, 6660-6664 (2018)
- Colloidal Quantum Dot Tandem Solar Cells Using Chemical Vapor Deposited Graphene as an Atomically Thin Intermediate Recombination Layer ACS Energy Lett. 3 (7), pp 1753–1759 (2017)
- High open circuit voltage solar cells based on bright mixed-halide CsPbBrI2 Perovskite nanocrystals synthesized in ambient air conditions J. Phys. Chem. C 122, 7621-7626 (2018)
- Infrared solution-processed quantum dot solar cells reaching external quantum efficiency of 80% at 1.35 µm and Jsc in excess of 34 mA cm-2 Adv. Mater. 30, 1704928 (2018)
- Matildite contact with media: First-principles study of AgBiS2 surfaces and nanoparticle morphology J. Phys. Chem. B 122, 521-526 (2018)
- Solution Processed Infrared- and Thermo- Photovoltaics based on 0.7 eV Bandgap PbS Colloidal Quantum Dots Nanoscale , (2018)
- Low-temperature colloidal synthesis of CuBiS2 nanocrystals for optoelectronic devices J. Mater. Chem. A 5, 24621-24625 (2017)
- Bandgap engineering by cationic disorder: case study on AgBiS2 Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 19, 27940-27944 (2017)
- Ultrasensitive all-2D MoS2 phototransistors enabled by an out-of-plane MoS2 PN homojunction Nature Commun. 8, 572 (2017)
- Near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield in CsPbBr3 nanocrystal solid-state films via post-synthesis treatment with lead bromide Chem. Mater. 29, 7663-7667 (2017)
- Reducing interface recombination through mixed nanocrystal interlayers in PbS quantum dot solar cells ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9, 27390-27395 (2017)
- Broadband image sensor array based on graphene–CMOS integration Nature Photon. 11, 366-371 (2017)
- Breaking the open-circuit voltage deficit floor in PbS quantum dot solar cells through synergistic ligand and architecture engineering ACS Energy Lett. 2, 1444-1449 (2017)
- Trap-state suppression and improved charge transport in PbS quantum dot solar cells with synergistic mixed-ligand treatments Small 13, 1700598 (2017)
- MoS2–HgTe quantum dot hybrid photodetectors beyond 2 µm Adv. Mater. 29, 1606576 (2017)
- Suppressing deep traps in PbS colloidal quantum dots via facile iodide substitutional doping for solar cells with efficiency >10 ACS Energy Lett. 2, 739-744 (2017)
- Ultrahigh carrier mobility achieved in photoresponsive hybrid perovskite films via coupling with single-walled carbon nanotubes Adv. Mater. 29, 1602432 (2017)
- Matildite versus schapbachite: First-principles investigation of the origin of photoactivity in AgBiS2 Phys. Rev. B 94, 235203 (2016)
- Photo-FETs: phototransistors enabled by 2D and 0D nanomaterials ACS Photonics 3, 2197-2210 (2016)
- Solid-state colloidal CuInS2 quantum dot solar cells enabled by bulk heterojunctions Nanoscale 8, 16776 (2016)
- Low-temperature, solution-based sulfurization and necking of PbS CQD films J. Phys. Chem. C 120, 20315-20322 (2016)
- Aliovalent doping in colloidal quantum dots and its manifestation on their optical properties: surface attachment versus structural incorporation Chem. Mater. 28, 5384-5393 (2016)
- Solution-processed solar cells based on environmentally friendly AgBiS2 nanocrystals Nature Photon. 10, 521-525 (2016)
- Integrating an electrically active colloidal quantum dot photodiode with a graphene phototransistor Nature Commun. 7, 11954 (2016)
- Interface engineering in hybrid quantum dot – 2D phototransistors ACS Photonics 3, 1324-1330 (2016)
- The role of surface passivation for efficient and photostable PbS quantum dot solar cells Nature Energ. 1, 16035 (2016)
- Understanding light trapping by resonant coupling to guided modes and the importance of the mode profile Opt. Express 24, 759-772 (2016)
- The influence of doping on the optoelectronic properties of PbS colloidal quantum dot solids Sci. Rep. 5, 18735 (2016)
- Strategies for controlled electronic doping of colloidal quantum dot solids ChemPhysChem 17, 632 (2015)
- Thiol-free synthesized copper indium sulfide nanocrystals as optoelectronic quantum dot solids Chem. Mater. 27, 8424-8432 (2015)
- Highly sensitive, encapsulated MoS2 photodetector with gate controllable gain and speed Nano Lett. 15, 7307-7313 (2015)
- Size and bandgap tunability in Bi2S3 colloidal nanocrystals and its effect in solution processed solar cells J. Mater. Chem. A 3, 20642-20648 (2015)
- A highly sensitive pyroresistive all-organic infrared bolometer Adv. Electron. Mater. 1, 201500090 (2015)
- Large-area plasmonic-crystal hot-electron based photodetectors ACS Photonics 2, 950-957(2015)
- Metal-insulator-semiconductor heterostructures for plasmonic hot-carrier optoelectronics Opt. Express 23, 14715-14723 (2015)
- Solution processed bismuth sulfide nanowire array core/silver sulfide shell solar cells Chem. Mater. 27, 3700–3706 (2015)
- Science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems Nanoscale 7, 4587-5062 (2015)
- Tailoring the electronic properties of colloidal quantum dots in metal–semiconductor nanocomposites for high performance photodetectors Small 11, 2636-2641 (2015)
- Prospects of nanoscience with nanocrystals ACS Nano 9, 1012-1057 (2015)
- Integrated colloidal quantum dot photodetectors with color-tunable plasmonic nanofocusing lenses Light-Sci. Appl. 4, e234 (2015)
- Molecular interfaces for plasmonic hot electron photovoltaics Nanoscale 7, 2281-2288 (2015)
- Hybrid 2D–0D MoS2–PbS quantum dot photodetectors Adv. Mater. 27, 176–180 (2015)
- Surface plasmon polariton couplers for light trapping in thin-film absorbers and their application to colloidal quantum dot optoelectronics ACS Photonics 1, 1197–1205 (2014)
- Improved electronic coupling in hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites employing thiol-functionalized P3HT and non-toxic bismuth sulfide nanocrystals Nanoscale 6, 10018-10026 (2014)
- Remote trap passivation in colloidal quantum dot bulk nano-heterojunctions and its effect in solution-processed solar cells Adv. Mater. 26, 4741-4747 (2014)
- Plasmonic schottky nanojunctions for tailoring the photogeneration profile in thin film solar cells Adv. Opt. Mater. 2, 493-500 (2014)
- Determination of carrier lifetime and mobility in colloidal quantum dot films via impedance spectroscopy Appl. Phys. Lett. 104, 063504 (2014)
- Imprinted electrodes for enhanced light trapping in solution processed solar cells Adv. Mater. 26, 443-448 (2014)
- Heterovalent cation substitutional doping for quantum dot homojunction solar cells Nature Commun. 4, 2981 (2013)
- Photoelectric energy conversion of plasmon-generated hot carriers
in metal-insulator-semiconductor structures ACS Nano 7, 3581-3588 (2013) - Hybrid solution-processed bulk heterojunction solar cells based on bismuth sulfide nanocrystals Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15, 5482-5487 (2013)
- Coupling resonant modes of embedded dielectric microspheres in solution-processed solar cells Adv. Opt. Mater. 1, 139-143 (2013) Back Cover Page
- Size- and temperature-dependent carrier dynamics in oleic acid capped PbS quantum dots J. Phys. Chem. C 117, 1887-1892 (2013)
- Electrical effects of metal nanoparticles embedded in ultra-thin colloidal quantum dot films Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 041103 (2012)
- Solution-processed inorganic bulk nano-heterojunctions and their application to solar cells Nature Photon. 6, 529-534 (2012)
- Hybrid graphene–quantum dot phototransistors with ultrahigh gain Nature Nanotechnol. 7, 363-368 (2012)
- Plasmonic light trapping leads to responsivity increase in colloidal quantum dot photodetectors Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 043101 (2012)
- Near IR-sensitive, non-toxic, polymer/nanocrystal solar cells employing bismuth sulfide as the electron acceptor Adv. Energ. Mater. 23, 1029-1035 (2011)
- Absorption enhancement in solution processed metal-semiconductor nanocomposites Opt. Express 19, 21038-21049 (2011)
- Solution-processed heterojunction solar cells based on p-type PbS quantum dots and n-type bismuth sulfide nanocrystals Adv. Mater. 23, 3712-3717 (2011)
- Colloidal quantum dot photodetectors Infrared Phys. Techn. 54, 278-282 (2010)
- Advances in colloidal quantum dot solar cells: The depleted-heterojunction device Thin Solid Films 519, 7351-7355 (2010)
- Nanostructured materials for photon detection Nature Nanotechnol. 5, 391–400 (2010)
- Depleted-heterojunction colloidal quantum dot solar cells ACS Nano 4, 3374–3380 (2010)
- Solution-processed quantum dot photodetectors Proc. IEEE 97, 1666-1683 (2009)
- Books
- Colloidal quantum dot optoelectronics and photovoltaics Cambridge University Press (2013)
- PhD Theses
- Photodetectors based on quantum dots and 2d materials
- Copper indium sulfide colloidal quantum dot solar cells
- Photodetectors based on Llow-dimensional materials and hybrid systems
- Plasmonic hot-carrier optoelectronics
- N-type bismuth sulfide colloidal nanocrystals and thir applications to solution-processed photovoltaic devices
Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials
Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Konstantatos

- 2018-12-03 Colloidal Quantum Dots make LEDs shine bright in the Infrared ICFO researchers report on the development of a colloidal quantum-dot light emitting diode with unprecedented quantum and power conversion efficiencies in the infrared range.
- 2018-11-23 Kick-off meeting of the Quantum Flagship “2D·SIPC“ project ICFO hosts the kick-off meeting of the Quantum Flagship “2D·SIPC” project, aimed at developing quantum devices that can be easily integrated in existing current silicon-based technologies.
- 2018-10-09 UPC Thesis Awards 2018 The UPC recognizes two ICFO PhD graduates with the Extraordinary PhD Thesis Award
- 2018-05-07 Proof of Concept Grant ERC Funding to develop a hand-held hybrid graphene-quantum broadband spectrometer prototype.
- 2017-12-18 2016 ICFO PhD Thesis Awards 3 ICFO PhD graduates awarded for creative and ambitious research progress.
- 2017-10-02 2D material photodetectors get even more sensitive An ICFO study published in Nature Communications reports of the development of very sensitive all-2D photodetectors.
- 2017-05-29 Graphene and Quantum Dots put in motion a CMOS-integrated camera that can see the invisible ICFO develops the first graphene-based camera, capable of imaging visible and infrared light at the same time.
- 2017-03-07 Quantum Dots and 2D materials for SWIR/Mid IR hybrid detectors ICFO researchers develop an ultra-sensitive, broadband, low-cost hybrid MoS2 - HgTe QD-based photodetector.
- 2016-12-15 2 ERC Consolidator Grants for ICFO Group Leaders Professors Gerasimos Konstantatos and Frank Koppens granted ERC Consolidator Grants for young research leaders.
- 2016-10-19 Congratulations to New ICFO PhD graduate Dr. David So graduated with a thesis in ‘Copper Indium Sulfide Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells’
- 2016-10-19 PhD Thesis Defense
DAVID SO \'Copper Indium Sulfide Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells\' DAVID SO
Functional Optoelectronics Nanomaterials
ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences - 2016-08-01 RETOS 2016 ICFO receives RETOS grant to team up with the company GRAPHENEA and carry out R+D+i industrial project.
- 2016-06-20 Solar Cells for Greener and Safer Energies ICFO researchers report on low-temperature, solution-processed, environmentally friendly inorganic solar cells made with Earth-abundant materials.
- 2016-06-17 New Hybrid Photodetectors with Quantum Dots and Graphene ICFO researchers develop a hybrid photodetector comprising an active colloidal quantum dot photodiode integrated with a graphene phototransistor
- 2016-06-13 Congratulations to New ICFO PhD graduate Dr. Dominik Kufer graduated with a thesis in ‘Photodetectors based on low-dimensional materials and hybrid’.
- 2016-06-13 PhD Thesis Defense
DOMINIK KUFER \'Photodetectors Based on Low-dimensional Materials and Hybrid Systems\' DOMINIK KUFER
Functional Optoelectronics Nanomaterials
ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences - 2016-04-04 ICFO in Nature Energy Researchers unveil quantum dot surface engineering for high efficiency and photostable PbS QD solar cells.
- 2016-01-28 New Proof of Concept ERC funding for GRAPHEALTH: graphene wearable technology
- 2015-02-18 Congratulations to New ICFO PhD graduate Dr. Pelayo García de Arquer graduated with a thesis in \'Plasmonic Hot-Carrier Optoelectronics\'
- 2015-01-19 Optical Sensing: the smaller the better Plasmonic Focusing enables High-Sensitivity Quantum Dot Photodetectors
- 2014-10-31 Congratulations to New ICFO PhD graduate Dr. Luis Martinez graduated with a thesis in ‘N-Type Bismuth Sulfide Colloidal Nanocrystals and their Application to Solution-Processed Photovoltaic Devices’
- 2014-10-06 Graphene’s 10-year Roadmap ICFO participates in the summary of the state-of-the-art of the research on graphene and its anticipated applications.
- 2013-12-18 Novel Doping Scheme for Colloidal Quantum Dots Researchers at ICFO develop colloidal quantum dot homojunctions via cation substitutional doping.
- 2013-11-14 Colloidal Quantum Dot Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos co-edits a book published by Cambridge University Press.
- 2013-10-31 Nanophotonic devices Imprinted electrodes for enhanced light trapping in quantum dot solar cells in Advanced Materials.
- 2013-09-20 ERC Proof of Concept Frank Koppens and Gerasimos Konstantatos receive funding for ERC Proof-of-Concept study.
- 2013-05-14 Fresnel Prize 2013 Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos awarded the Fresnel Prize from the European Physics Society.
- 2013-03-14 La Vanguardia publishes its top 10 scientific discoveries of the 21st century Graphene cited as one of the most influential discoveries of this century.
- 2013-01-29 Vanguard of Science Award Prof. Frank Koppens and Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos candidates for a prize organized by La Vanguardia and Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera to promote excellence in research.
- 2012-11-21 New European FET- ENERGY Project to be coordinated by ICFO NANOMATCELL project aims to develop next generation DSSCs.
- 2012-10-22 TR35 Spain 2012 Award ICFO Professor Gerasimos Konstantatos awarded the TR35 Spain Prize 2012
- 2012-07-03 ICFO in Nature Photonics Researchers led by Gerasimos Konstantatos present a novel architectural platform for inorganic solution-processed optoelectronics and solar cells.
- 2012-05-15 ICFO in The Economist New technology developed by the groups of Gerasimos Konstantatos and Frank Koppens receives enthusiastic support from prestigious international press.
- 2012-05-07 Hybrid Graphene-Quantum Dot Phototransistors with Ultrahigh Gain ICFO research groups report in Nature Nanotechnology on photodetection advances combining nanocrystals and graphene.
- 2011-03-21 ARCITEC PhD student Luis Martinez describes the development of solar energy at ICFO in a UPC blog on architecture, science and technology.
- 2010-02-05 New Network of Excellence ICFO hosts the kick-off meeting of Nanophotonics for Energy Efficiency.