Boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells up to 7.11% through simultaneous engineering of photocathode and photoanode

Authors

Yang Bai, University of Queensland
Chao Han, University of WollongongFollow
Xinqi Chen, University of WollongongFollow
Hua Yu, University of Queensland
Xu Zong, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Zhen Li, University of WollongongFollow
Lianzhou Wang, University of Queensland

RIS ID

100215

Publication Details

Bai, Y., Han, C., Chen, X., Yu, H., Zong, X., Li, Z. & Wang, L. (2015). Boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells up to 7.11% through simultaneous engineering of photocathode and photoanode. Nano Energy, 13 609-619.

Abstract

We demonstrate a new strategy of boosting the efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) by engineering the photocathode and photoanode simultaneously. Nanostructured photocathodes based on non-stoichiometric Cu_2-xSe electrocatalysts were developed via a simple and scalable approach for CdS/CdSe QDs co-sensitized solar cells. Compared to Cu₂S CE, remarkably improved photovoltaic performance was achieved for QDSSCs with Cu_2-xSe CEs. The superior catalytic activity and electrical conductivity of Cu_2-xSe CEs were verified by the electrochemical impedance spectra and Tafel-polarization measurements. To maximize the efficiency enhancement, the photoanodes were optimized by introducing a pillared porous titania composite as the scattering layers for further light harvesting and charge transfer improvement concurrently. The combination of effective Cu_2-xSe electrocatalysts and pillared titania scattering layers contributed to one of the best reported efficiencies of 7.11% for CdS/CdSe QDs co-sensitized solar cells.

Grant Number

ARC/DP130102274, ARC/DP130102699

Additional Grant Number

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130102274

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130102699