Doped-nanoparticle photochromic heterostructures

Abstract

Some variations provide a photochromic heterostructure comprising: first semiconductor nanoparticles that have an average first-nanoparticle effective diameter from 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers, wherein the first semiconductor nanoparticles are not doped; and second semiconductor nanoparticles that have an average second-nanoparticle effective diameter from 1 nanometer to 60 nanometers, wherein the second semiconductor nanoparticles are doped with one or more transition metals, wherein the second semiconductor nanoparticles have a bandgap energy that is higher than the bandgap energy of the first semiconductor nanoparticles, and wherein the first semiconductor nanoparticles and the second semiconductor nanoparticles are in physical contact with each other. The disclosed photochromic heterostructure is especially useful when lower-energy light excites lower-energy-bandgap first nanoparticles to cause higher-energy-bandgap, doped second nanoparticles to photodarken. If the first nanoparticles were not present, the doped second nanoparticles would require higher-energy light to cause darkening. Examples demonstrate embodiments of the invention.