Quantum dot sensitized solar cell based on TiO2/CdS/Ag2S heterostructure

Sachin A. Pawar, Dipali S. Patil, Jin Hyeok Kim, Pramod S. Patil, Jae Cheol Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) is fabricated based on a stepwise band structure of TiO2/CdS/Ag2S to improve the photoconversion efficiency of TiO2/CdS system by incorporating a low band gap Ag2S QDs. Vertically aligned TiO2 nanorods assembly is prepared by a simple hydrothermal technique. The formation of CdS and Ag2S QDs over TiO2 nanorods assembly as a photoanode is carried out by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The synthesized electrode materials are characterized by XRD, XPS, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Optical, solar cell and electrochemical performances. The results designate that the QDs of CdS and Ag2S have efficiently covered exterior surfaces of TiO2 nanorods assembly. A cautious evaluation between TiO2/CdS and TiO2/CdS/Ag2S sensitized cells tells that CdS and Ag2S synergetically helps to enhance the light harvesting ability. Under AM 1.5G illumination, the photoanodes show an improved power conversion efficiency of 1.87%, in an aqueous polysulfide electrolyte with short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.03 mA cm−2 which is four fold higher than that of a TiO2/CdS system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)644-650
Number of pages7
JournalOptical Materials
Volume66
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2017

Keywords

  • Cascade structure
  • CdS/AgS
  • Efficiency
  • Quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC)
  • Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR)
  • XPS

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