Title: Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of CuInS2/CdS quantum dots co-sensitised TiO₂ photo-anodes

Authors: Z.Y. Peng; Y.L. Liu; Y.Q. Cheng; K.Q. Chen; P. Zhou; W. Shu; W. Chen

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China ' State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China

Abstract: The CuInS₂ and CdS quantum dots co-sensitised solar cells are successfully fabricated to improve the photovoltaic performance. The CuInS₂ quantum dots are adsorbed on the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles by assembly linking technique, and then the CdS quantum dots are deposited by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction technique. The absorption intensity is obviously enhanced and absorption edge is expanded to 800 nm after the co-sensitisation process. Under the irradiation of the simulated sunlight, the incident photon conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra are also expanded to a longer wavelength, and the IPCE intensity reveals the maximum value of 53%. As a consequence, the photovoltaic power conversion efficiency is greatly enhanced to be 3.01%. It is mainly attributed to the better visible absorption performance from CuInS₂ quantum dots and the quantum confinement reduction of the quantum dots in these co-sensitised solar cells.

Keywords: CuInS2; copper indium disulphide; CdS; cadmium sulphide; quantum dots; photovoltaic enhancement; nanotechnology; synthesis; TiO2 photo-anodes; titanium dioxide; titania nanoparticles; co-sensitised solar cells; photovoltaic power conversion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.063799

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.9/10/11, pp.921 - 931

Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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