Improving the performance of QDSSCs based on Tio₂/CdS (Silar)/CdSe(Colloid)/Zns(Silar) photoanodes

Abstract

In this study, CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using colloidal trioctylphosphine (TOP) with an organic ligand layer and oleic acid as a capping agent, and a photoelectrode anode was prepared using CdS/CdSe QDs/ZnS thin film deposition on a TiO2 electrode via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The results indicated that the short current density increased from 4.79 mA/cm2 to 13.97 mA/cm2 because the conduction band of the CdSe (size ∼ 3 nm) QDs became higher than that of both TiO2 and CdS. As a result, the stimulated electrons were efficiently injected into the conduction band of TiO2 and CdS. In addition, the dynamic resistance and the lifetime of stimulated electrons in the QDSSCs were investigated using Nyquist and Bode plots. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1774–1779, 2015

The Influence of Dopant Concentration on Optical-Electrical Features of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell

“…Furthermore, by observation, the E g values of CdSe-doped photoanodes depended significantly on the change in dopants. Here, the reduced E g of the doped films resulted from two factors: an increase in particle size after doping [ 17 ], and a change in force density on account of the presence of Cu-Se, Mn-Se, and Ag-Se pairs in the extended lattice at the expense of Cd-Se in the host lattice [ 18 ]. Therefore, the dopant energy levels, called transition energies, are presented in the E g of pure CdSe QDs.…”

Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell: Photoanodes, Counter Electrodes, and Electrolytes

“…Pt was previously used as the cathode material due to its compatibility with the I 3− /I − electrolyte as a Figure 9. However, the resistance of the counter electrode/electrolyte interface is relatively high, which reduces the electron transport efficiency through the cathode surface [ 123 ]. For QDSSCs, QDs are easily corroded in the I 3− /I − electrolyte and hence limit the light absorption ability of those QDs.…”

“…As discussed in Section 6 , QDSSCs derived from the previous type of solar cells, which had dye molecules as photo absorbers, so keep using the I − /I 3− electrolyte. This electrolyte, however, is the main cause of corrosion and functional degradation of QDs and hence low efficiency, for instance, 1.52% PCE of QDSSCs based on CdS/CdSe QDs [ 123 ]. Therefore, seeking for a more compatible electrolyte with QDs to improve QDSSCs performance is the main challenge.…”

Stability Investigation of Ligand-Exchanged CdSe/ZnS-Y (Y = 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid or Mercaptosuccinic Acid) through Zeta Potential Measurements

“…According to the literature [16][17][18], the colloidal method, a widely used approach to synthesize CdSe quantum dots, was employed for fabrication in this work. The procedure was as follows: we first dissolved 0.133 g of cadmium acetate dehydrates in 0.64 mL of oleic acid (OA) and 5 mL of diphenyl ether (DPE).…”