Authors
Abstract
In this research, CdS and PbS quantum dots were applied as the light sensitizers in TiO2 based nanostructured solar cells. The PbS quantum dots could absorb a wide range of the sunlight spectrum on earth due to their low bandgap energy. As a result, the cell sensitization is more effective by application of both CdS and PbS quantum dots sensitizers. The TiO2 nanocrystals were synthesized through a hydrothermal process and deposited on FTO glass substrates as the photoanode scaffold. Then PbS quantum dots were grown on the surface of this nanocrystalline layer by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The CdS quantum dots were over-grown in the next step through a similar deposition method. Finally this sensitized layer was applied as the photoelectrode of the corresponding quantum dot sensitized solar cells. The results demonstrated that the maximum efficiency was achieved for the cell with a photoanode made of co-sensitization through 2 and 6 cycles of PbS and CdS deposition, respectively. The photovoltaic parameters of this cell were measured as Jsc of 10.81 mA/cm2, Voc of 590 mv and energy conversion efficiency of 2.7±0.2%
Keywords
2. R Ross and A Nozik, J. Appl. Phys. 53 (1982) 3813.
3. A Nozik, Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 52 (2001) 193.
4. M Eskandari, V Ahmadi, M Yousefi Rad, and S Kohnehpoushi, Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures 14 (2014)1386.
5. J Kim, H Choi, CH Nahm, J Moon, CH Kim, S Nam, D R Jung, and B Park, Journal of Power Sources 196 (2011) 10526.
6. Y Zhang Shen, L Wei Zhang, Y Zhang Fuyuan, Q Shuyao Wu, Q Ting Feng, and X Ming Song, Electrochimica Acta 150 (2014)167.
7. H Shang Rao, W QiangWu, Y Liu, Y F Xu, B X Chen, H Y Chen, D B Kuang, and C Y Su, Nano Energy 8 (2014) 1.
8. Y Lai, Z Lin, D Zheng, L Chi, R Du, and C Lin, Electrochimica Acta 79 (2012) 175.
9. J W Lee, D Y Son, T K Ahn, H W Shin, Y Kim, S Hwang, M Ko, S Sul, H Han, N G Park, Scientific Reports 3 (2013) 1050.
10. N Zhou, G Chen, X Zhang, L Cheng, Y Luo, D Li, Q Meng, Electrochemistry Communications 20 (2012) 97.
11. V González-Pedro, C Sima, G Marzari, P P Boix, S Giménez, Q Shen, T Dittrich, and I Mora-Seróe, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 15 (2013) 4283
12. S R hle, M Shalom, and A Zaban, Chem. Phys. Chem. 11 (2010) 2290.
13. Y Zhu, R Wang, W Zhang, and H Ge, Applied Surface Science 315 (2014) 149.
14. S Acharya, B Das, U Thupakula, K Ariga, D D Sarma, J Israelachvili, and Y Golan, Nano Lett. 13 (2013) 409.
15. D Dimitrakopoulos and R L Malenfant, Advanced Materials 14 (2002) 99.
16. M Marandi, S Feshki, M Naeimi Sani Sabet, Z Anajafia, and N Taghavinia, RSC Advances 4 (2014) 58064.
17. R Zhou, Q Zhang, E Uchaker, J Lan, M Yin, and G Cao, Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2 (2014) 2517
)