AgInS2-ZnS Quantum Dots: Excited State Interactions with TiO2and Photovoltaic Performance.
Multinary quantum dots such as AgInS2and alloyed AgInS2-ZnS are an emerging class of semiconductor materials for applications in photovoltaic and display devices. The nanocrystals of (AgInS2)x-(ZnS)1-x(for x = 0.67) exhibit a broad emission with a maximum at 623 nm and interact strongly with TiO2nanostructures by injecting electrons from the excited state. The electron transfer rate constant as determined from transient absorption spectroscopy was 1.8 × 1010s-1. The photovoltaic performance was evaluated over a period of a few weeks to demonstrate the stability of AgInS2-ZnS when utilized as sensitizers in solar cells. We report a power conversion efficiency of 2.25% of our champion cell 1 month after its fabrication. The limitations of AgInS2-ZnS nanocrystals in achieving greater solar cell efficiency are discussed.
Radiation Laboratory, ‡Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and §Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
Steven M
SM
Kobosko
Radiation Laboratory, ‡Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and §Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
Danilo H
DH
Jara
Radiation Laboratory, ‡Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and §Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame , Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
Prashant V
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2465-6819
PV
Kamat
AgInS2; electron transfer; emission quenching; quantum dots; solar cells