title: Exploring Interfacial Events in Gold-Nanocluster-Sensitized Solar Cells: Insights into the Effects of the Cluster Size and Electrolyte on Solar Cell Performance.
abstract: Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) with molecule-like behavior have emerged as a new light harvester in various energy conversion systems. Despite several important strides made recently, efforts toward the utilization of NCs as a light harvester have been primarily restricted to proving their potency and feasibility. In solar cell applications, ground-breaking research with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of more than 2% has recently been reported. Because of the lack of complete characterization of metal cluster-sensitized solar cells (MCSSCs), however, comprehensive understanding of the interfacial events and limiting factors which dictate their performance remains elusive. In this regard, we provide deep insight into MCSSCs for the first time by performing in-depth electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis combined with physical characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of Au NCs. In particular, we focused on the effect of the size of the Au NCs and electrolytes on the performance of MCSSCs and reveal that they are significantly influential on important solar cell characteristics such as the light absorption capability, charge injection kinetics, interfacial charge recombination, and charge transport. Besides offering comprehensive insights, this work represents an important stepping stone toward the development of MCSSCs by accomplishing a new PCE record of 3.8%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Hanyang University , 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Kyeonggi-do 15588, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University , 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tea-Yon
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, Hanyang University , Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Uck
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University , 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Hanyang University , 55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Kyeonggi-do 15588, Republic of Korea.|Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, Hanyang University , Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.|Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University , Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bang