<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The photovoltaic characterization of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) by tuning band gap of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) through size control has been investigated. Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates were coated with 20 nm in diameter TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Pre-synthesized colloidal CdSe quantum dots of different sizes (from 4.0 to 5.4 nm) were deposited on the TiO2-coated substrates using direct adsorption (DA) method. The FTO counter electrodes were coated with platinum, while the electrolyte containing I−/I3− redox species was sandwiched between the two electrodes. The current density-voltage (J-V) characteristic curves of the assembled QDSSCs were measured for different dipping times, and AM 1.5 simulated sunlight. The maximum values of short circuit current density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency (η) are 1.62 mA/cm2 and 0.29 % respectively, corresponding to CdSe QDs of size 4.52 nm (542 nm absorption edge) and of 6 h dipping time. The variation of the CdSe QDs size mainly tunes the alignment of the conduction band minimum of CdSe with respect to that of TiO2 surface. Furthermore, the Jsc increases linearly with increasing intensity of the sun light, which indicates the sensitivity of the assembled cells.</p></abstract>

The photovoltaic characterization of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) by tuning band gap of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) through size control has been investigated. Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates were coated with 20 nm in diameter TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Pre-synthesized colloidal CdSe quantum dots of different sizes (from 4.0 to 5.4 nm) were deposited on the TiO2-coated substrates using direct adsorption (DA) method. The FTO counter electrodes were coated with platinum, while the electrolyte containing I−/I3− redox species was sandwiched between the two electrodes. The current density-voltage (J-V) characteristic curves of the assembled QDSSCs were measured for different dipping times, and AM 1.5 simulated sunlight. The maximum values of short circuit current density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency (η) are 1.62 mA/cm2 and 0.29 % respectively, corresponding to CdSe QDs of size 4.52 nm (542 nm absorption edge) and of 6 h dipping time. The variation of the CdSe QDs size mainly tunes the alignment of the conduction band minimum of CdSe with respect to that of TiO2 surface. Furthermore, the Jsc increases linearly with increasing intensity of the sun light, which indicates the sensitivity of the assembled cells.

Tuning photocurrent response through size control of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia Cairo, Egypt

Department of Mathematical and Physical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra), Benha University, Cairo, Egypt

Materials Science-Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The photovoltaic characterization of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) by tuning band gap of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) through size control has...

Tuning photocurrent response through size control of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells

Published Online: Feb 09, 2013

Page range: 6 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13536-012-0060-x

Keywords
CdSe quantum dot, tuning band gap, direct adsorption, quantum dots sensitized solar cell, photovoltaic cells

© 2013 Wroclaw University of Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Tuning photocurrent response through size control of CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells

Published Online: Feb 09, 2013

Page range: 6 - 13

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13536-012-0060-x

KeywordsCdSe quantum dot, tuning band gap, direct adsorption, quantum dots sensitized solar cell, photovoltaic cells

© 2013 Wroclaw University of Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
CdSe quantum dot, tuning band gap, direct adsorption, quantum dots sensitized solar cell, photovoltaic cells