Nanostructured layers, method of making nanostructured layers, and application thereof

A method of making a nanostructure layer, the method comprising:

• synthesizing a first, a second, and a third population of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, wherein volatile organic molecules are used as capping ligands in synthesis and an excess of nanocrystal precursors are included in one or more nanocrystal dispersions;
• mixing the first, second, and third populations together to form a mixture of quantum dots;
• depositing the mixture of quantum dots onto a substrate;
• assembling ordered quantum dot solids on a lower electrode layer by slow precipitation of the quantum dots through controlled evaporation of a solvent from a quantum dot dispersion;
• removing the volatile organic molecules on a quantum dot surface;
• reacting the excess precursors within interstitial spaces between assembled nanoparticles in order to deposit semiconductor material between them through a thermal heating process;
• and,
• sintering the quantum dots assembled on a substrate together to form a contiguous low defect nanostructured film capable of absorbing light, separating charge carriers, and transporting the charge carriers to an opposite electrode.