title: Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells having 3D-TiO2 flower-like structures on the surface of titania nanorods with CuS counter electrode.
abstract: The photovoltaic performance of a quantum dot (QD)-sensitized solar cell consisting of CdS/CdSe/ZnS QDs loaded onto the surface of the three-dimensional (3D) flower-like TiO2 structure grown on an array (1D) of TiO2 nanorods (FTiR) is studied. The flower-like structure on the rod-shaped titania was synthesized using a double-step hydrothermal process. The FTiR array exhibited a 3D/1D composite structure with a specific surface area of 81.87 m(2)/g. Using CuS as the counter electrode instead of Pt offers the best performance and leads to an increase in the conversion efficiency (η). The efficiency of the CdS/CdSe/ZnS QD-loaded FTiR assembling CuS counter electrode cell improved from η = 2.715% (Voc = 0.692 V, Jsc = 5.896 mA/cm(2), FF = 0.665) to η = 0.703% (Voc = 0.665 V, Jsc = 2.108 mA/cm(2), FF = 0.501) for the QD-loaded FTiR assembling Pt counter electrode cell. These studies reveal a synergistically beneficial effect on the solar-to-current conversion of these QD-sensitized solar cells when a CuS counter electrode is used instead of the usual Pt counter electrode.
authors: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand.
authors: Nattha
authors: N
authors: Buatong
authors: Department of Material Science, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand.
authors: I-Ming
authors: IM
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Lat Yao Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900 Thailand.
authors: Weeraphat
authors: W
authors: Pon-On
keywords: Counter electrode; Nanostructures; Quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC); Semiconductors