Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

30 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

An integrated approach to realizing high-performance liquid-junction quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

ABSTRACT: Solution-processed semiconductor quantum dot solar cells offer a path towards both reduced fabrication cost and higher efficiency enabled by novel processes such as hot-electron extraction and carrier multiplication. Here we use a new class of low-cost, low-toxicity CuInSexS2-x quantum dots to demonstrate sensitized solar cells with certified efficiencies exceeding 5%. Among other material and device design improvements studied, use of a methanol-based polysulfide electrolyte results in a particularly dramatic enhancement in photocurrent and reduced series resistance. Despite the high vapour pressure of methanol, the solar cells are stable for months under ambient conditions, which is much longer than any previously reported quantum dot sensitized solar cell. This study demonstrates the large potential of CuInSexS2-x quantum dots as active materials for the realization of low-cost, robust and efficient photovoltaics as well as a platform for investigating various advanced concepts derived from the unique physics of the nanoscale size regime.

SUBMITTER: McDaniel H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3863971 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

Efficient eco-friendly inverted quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

Project description:Recent progress in quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells has demonstrated the possibility of low-cost and efficient photovoltaics. However, the standard device structure based on n-type materials often suffers from slow hole injection rate, which may lead to unbalanced charge transport. We have fabricated efficient p-type (inverted) QD sensitized cells, which combine the advantages of conventional QD cells with p-type dye sensitized configurations. Moreover, p-type QD sensitized cells can be used in highly promising tandem configurations with n-type ones. QDs without toxic Cd and Pb elements and with improved absorption and stability were successfully deposited onto mesoporous NiO electrode showing good coverage and penetration according to morphological analysis. Detailed photophysical charge transfer studies showed that high hole injection rates (108 s-1) observed in such systems are comparable with electron injection in conventional n-type QD assemblies. Inverted solar cells fabricated with various QDs demonstrate excellent power conversion efficiencies of up to 1.25%, which is 4 times higher than the best values for previous inverted QD sensitized cells. Attempts to passivate the surface of the QDs show that traditional methods of reduction of recombination in the QD sensitized cells are not applicable to the inverted architectures.

| S-EPMC4936380 | biostudies-literature

Quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell with unprecedentedly high photocurrent.

Project description:The reported photocurrent density (J(SC)) of PbS quantum dot (QD)-sensitized solar cell was less than 19 mA/cm(2) despite the capability to generate 38 mA/cm(2), which results from inefficient electron injection and fast charge recombination. Here, we report on a PbS:Hg QD-sensitized solar cell with an unprecedentedly high J(SC) of 30 mA/cm(2). By Hg(2+) doping into PbS, J(SC) is almost doubled with improved stability. Femtosecond transient study confirms that the improved J(SC) is due to enhanced electron injection and suppressed charge recombination. EXAFS reveals that Pb-S bond is reinforced and structural disorder is reduced by interstitially incorporated Hg(2+), which is responsible for the enhanced electron injection, suppressed recombination and stability. Thanks to the extremely high J(SC), power conversion efficiency of 5.6% is demonstrated at one sun illumination.

| S-EPMC3541510 | biostudies-literature

Interface Passivation Effects on the Photovoltaic Performance of Quantum Dot Sensitized Inverse Opal TiO₂ Solar Cells.

Project description:Quantum dot (QD)-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) are expected to achieve higher energy conversion efficiency than traditional single-junction silicon solar cells due to the unique properties of QDs. An inverse opal (IO)-TiO₂ (IO-TiO₂) electrode is useful for QDSSCs because of its three-dimensional (3D) periodic nanostructures and better electrolyte penetration compared to the normal nanoparticles (NPs)-TiO₂ (NPs-TiO₂) electrode. We find that the open-circuit voltages Voc of the QDSSCs with IO-TiO₂ electrodes are higher than those of QDSSCs with NPs-TiO₂ electrodes. One important strategy for enhancing photovoltaic conversion efficiency of QDSSCs with IO-TiO₂ electrodes is surface passivation of photoanodes using wide-bandgap semiconducting materials. In this study, we have proposed surface passivation on IO-TiO₂ with ZnS coating before QD deposition. The efficiency of QDSSCs with IO-TiO₂ electrodes is largely improved (from 0.74% to 1.33%) because of the enhancements of Voc (from 0.65 V to 0.74 V) and fill factor (FF) (from 0.37 to 0.63). This result indicates that ZnS passivation can reduce the interfacial recombination at the IO-TiO₂/QDs and IO-TiO₂/electrolyte interfaces, for which two possible explanations can be considered. One is the decrease of recombination at IO-TiO₂/electrolyte interfaces, and the other one is the reduction of the back-electron injection from the TiO₂ electrode to QDs. All of the above results are effective for improving the photovoltaic properties of QDSSCs.

| S-EPMC6071099 | biostudies-literature

Zeolitic-imidazolate frameworks derived Pt-free counter electrodes for high-performance quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.

Project description:Zeolitic-imidazole frameworks (ZIFs), as novel porous materials, are attracting much attention in several fields due to their special advantages such as large specific surface area, versatile porosity and well-connected networks. Here, we develop a porous ZIF-derived catalytic thin film, which was coated on the conducting glass as a counter electrode (CE) to substitute costly platinum for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). A ZIF layer is first prepared by coating ZIF-67 powders on the conducting glass, followed by the careful calcination treatments in sulfur vapour (sulfuration) or nitrogen gas (carbonization). The structure and morphologies of the derived porous film are characterized by the measurements of XRD, SEM and BET, and the electrochemical properties in the polysulfide solution are evaluated by the measurements of Tafel curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies. The derived porous film is used as a CE to fabricate QDSSC with CdSe quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 nanocrystalline thin film and the polysulfide solution. Compared with the photovoltaic performance of CdSe QDSSCs based on the CE prepared by the different sulfuration conditions, QDSSC based on the CE derived by the sulfuration for 30 min shows an excellent light-to-electric conversion efficiency of 3.77%, it is even higher than that of QDSSC based on Pt CE (2.98%). This work will open a new avenue to design a facile, low-cost and renewable CE for QDSSC.

| S-EPMC5990812 | biostudies-literature

Carbon nanotube/metal-sulfide composite flexible electrodes for high-performance quantum dot-sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors.

Project description:Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and metal sulfides have attracted considerable attention owing to their outstanding properties and multiple application areas, such as electrochemical energy conversion and energy storage. Here we describes a cost-effective and facile solution approach to the preparation of metal sulfides (PbS, CuS, CoS, and NiS) grown directly on CNTs, such as CNT/PbS, CNT/CuS, CNT/CoS, and CNT/NiS flexible electrodes for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) and supercapacitors (SCs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the CNT network was covered with high-purity metal sulfide compounds. QDSSCs equipped with the CNT/NiS counter electrode (CE) showed an impressive energy conversion efficiency (η) of 6.41% and remarkable stability. Interestingly, the assembled symmetric CNT/NiS-based polysulfide SC device exhibited a maximal energy density of 35.39 W h kg-1 and superior cycling durability with 98.39% retention after 1,000 cycles compared to the other CNT/metal-sulfides. The elevated performance of the composites was attributed mainly to the good conductivity, high surface area with mesoporous structures and stability of the CNTs and the high electrocatalytic activity of the metal sulfides. Overall, the designed composite CNT/metal-sulfide electrodes offer an important guideline for the development of next level energy conversion and energy storage devices.

| S-EPMC5395955 | biostudies-literature

Enhanced Performance of PbS-quantum-dot-sensitized Solar Cells via Optimizing Precursor Solution and Electrolytes.

Project description:This work reports a PbS-quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSC) with power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4%. PbS quantum dots (QDs) were grown on mesoporous TiO2 film using a successive ion layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The growth of QDs was found to be profoundly affected by the concentration of the precursor solution. At low concentrations, the rate-limiting factor of the crystal growth was the adsorption of the precursor ions, and the surface growth of the crystal became the limiting factor in the high concentration solution. The optimal concentration of precursor solution with respect to the quantity and size of synthesized QDs was 0.06 M. To further increase the performance of QDSCs, the 30% deionized water of polysulfide electrolyte was replaced with methanol to improve the wettability and permeability of electrolytes in the TiO2 film, which accelerated the redox couple diffusion in the electrolyte solution and improved charge transfer at the interfaces between photoanodes and electrolytes. The stability of PbS QDs in the electrolyte was also improved by methanol to reduce the charge recombination and prolong the electron lifetime. As a result, the PCE of QDSC was increased to 4.01%.

| S-EPMC4792143 | biostudies-other

ZnO Hierarchical Nanostructure Photoanode in a CdS Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell.

Project description:A hierarchical array of ZnO nanocones covered with ZnO nanospikes was hydrothermally fabricated and employed as the photoanode in a CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC). This QDSSC outperformed the QDSSC based on a simple ZnO nanocone photoanode in all the four principal photovoltaic parameters. Using the hierarchical photoanode dramatically increased the short circuit current density and also slightly raised the open circuit voltage and the fill factor. As a result, the conversion efficiency of the QDSSC based on the hierarchical photoanode was more than twice that of the QDSSC based on the simple ZnO nanocone photoanode. This improvement is attributable to both the enlarged specific area of the photoanode and the reduction in the recombination of the photoexcited electrons.

| S-EPMC4574909 | biostudies-literature

Origin of the effects of PEG additives in electrolytes on the performance of quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

Project description:It has been well established that polymer additives in electrolyte can impede the charge recombination processes at the photoanode/electrolyte interface, and improve performance, especially V oc, of the resulting sensitized solar cells. However, there are few reports about the effect of electrolyte additives on counter electrode (CE) performance. Herein, we systematically investigated the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) additives with various molecular weights (M w from 300 to 20 000) in polysulfide electrolyte on the performance of two representative CdSe and Zn-Cu-In-Se (ZCISe) quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), and explored the mechanism of the observed effects. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements indicate that all PEG additives can improve the charge recombination resistance at the photoanode/electrolyte interface, therefore suppressing the unwanted charge recombination process, and enhancing the V oc of the resulting cell devices accordingly. On the CE side, with the increase of M w of PEG additives, the initial effect of reducing the charge transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface evolves into an increasing resistance; accordingly the initial positive effect on FF turns into negative one. Accordingly, low M w PEG can improve efficiency for both CdSe (increasing from 6.81% to 7.60%) and ZCISe QDSCs (increasing from 9.26% to 10.20%). High M w PEG is still effective for CdSe QDSCs with an efficiency of 7.38%, but falls flat on ZCISe QDSCs (with an efficiency of 9.11%).

| S-EPMC9085256 | biostudies-literature

Solar Paint from TiO<sub>2</sub> Particles Supported Quantum Dots for Photoanodes in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Project description:The preparation of quantum dot (QD)-sensitized photoanodes, especially the deposition of QDs on TiO2 matrix, is usually a time-extensive and performance-determinant step in the construction of QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Herein, a transformative approach for immobilizing QD on the TiO2 matrix was developed by simply mixing the as-prepared oil-soluble QDs with TiO2 P25 particles suspension for a period as short as half a minute. The solar paint was prepared by adding the TiO2/QD composite in a binder solution under ultrasonication. The QD-sensitized photoanodes were then obtained by simply brushing the solar paint on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate followed by a low-temperature annealing at ambient atmosphere. Sandwich-structured complete QDSCs were assembled with the use of Cu2S/brass as counter electrode and polysulfide redox couple as an electrolyte. The photovoltaic performance of the resulting Zn-Cu-In-Se (ZCISe) QDSCs was evaluated after primary optimization of the QD/TiO2 ratio as well as the thicknesses of photoanode films. In this proof of concept with a simple solar paint approach for photoanode films, an average power conversion efficiency of 4.13% (J sc = 11.11 mA/cm2, V oc = 0.590 V, fill factor = 0.631) was obtained under standard irradiation condition. This facile solar paint approach offers a simple and convenient approach for QD-sensitized photoanodes in the construction of QDSCs.

| S-EPMC6641499 | biostudies-literature

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of α-Al2O3 and M-Al2O4 spinel nanocomposites in hybrid quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

Project description:The aim of this study is to describe the performance of the aluminum oxide nanoparticle and metal aluminate spinel nanoparticle as photo-anodes in quantum dot photovoltaic. By using a sol–gel auto combustion method, Al2O3 NPs, CoAl2O4, CuAl2O4, NiAl2O4, and ZnAl2O4 were successfully synthesized. The formation of Al2O3 NPs and MAl2O4 (M=Co, Cu, Ni, Zn) nanocomposite was confirmed by using several characteristics such as XRD, UV–Vis, FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDX spectra. The XRD shows that the CoAl2O4 has a smaller crystallite size (12.37 nm) than CuAl2O4, NiAl2O4, and ZnAl2O4. The formation of a single-phase spinel structure of the calcined samples at 1100 °C was confirmed by FTIR. Our studies showed that the pure Al2O3 NPs have a lower energy gap (1.37 eV) than synthesized MAl2O4 under UV–Vis irradiation. Due to the well separation between the light-generated electrons and the formed holes, the cell containing ZnAl2O4 nanocomposite with CdS QDs has the highest efficiency of 8.22% and the current density of 22.86 mA cm−2, while the cell based on NiAl2O4 as a photoelectrode, six cycles of CdS/ZnS QDs, and P-rGO as a counter electrode achieved the best (PCE) power conversion efficiency of 15.14% and the current density of 28.22 mA cm−2. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that ZnAl2O4 and NiAl2O4 nanocomposites have the highest life times of the photogenerated electrons (τn) of 11*10−2 and 96*10−3 ms, respectively, and the lowest diffusion rates (Keff) of 9.09 and 10.42 ms−1, respectively.

| S-EPMC9554019 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data