title: Improve photo-electron conversion efficiency of ZnO/CdS coaxial nanorods by p-type CdTe coating.
abstract: Coaxial nanorods with a single-crystalline core and nanocrystal sensitizer shell are a promising nanostructure to enhance the performance of semiconductor sensitized solar cells. Herein, we report the fabrication of coaxial nanorods by depositing n-type CdS and p-type CdTe nanocrystals sequentially on ZnO nanorods. We find that p-type CdTe nanocrystals can work jointly with n-type CdS nanocrystals to enhance the photocurrent and voltage, achieving a conversion efficiency more than three times that of pure ZnO/CdS nanorods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization suggests that the stepwise band structure of ZnO/CdS/CdTe is conducive to improving charge separation and extending the electron diffusion length, finally contributing to a high conversion efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Kay Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xue-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Xi-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Du