title: Performance of colloidal CdS sensitized solar cells with ZnO nanorods/nanoparticles.
abstract: As an alternative photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells, bovine serum albumin (BSA) (a nonhazardous protein) was used in the synthesis of colloidal CdS nanoparticles (NPs). This system has been employed to replace the commonly used N719 dye molecule. Various nanostructured forms of ZnO, namely, nanorod and nanoparticle-based photoanodes, have been sensitized with colloidal CdS NPs to evaluate their effective performance towards quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). A polysulphide (Sx2-)-based electrolyte and CuxS counter electrode were used for cell fabrication and testing. An interesting improvement in the performance of the device by imposing nanorods as a scattering layer on a particle layer has been observed. As a consequence, a maximum conversion efficiency of 1.06% with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.67 V was achieved for the ZnO nanorod/nanoparticle assembled structure. The introduction of ZnO nanorods over the nanoparticle led to a significant enhancement of the overall efficiency compared to the corresponding bare nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Sensor and Actuator Division, CSIR - Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata 700032, India; CSIR - Network Institute of Solar Energy (CSIR-NISE), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Sensor and Actuator Division, CSIR - Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata 700032, India; CSIR - Network Institute of Solar Energy (CSIR-NISE), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Partha Pratim
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: CSIR - Network Institute of Solar Energy (CSIR-NISE), New Delhi, India,; Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411 008, India.
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tathavadekar
authors.affiliation: Sensor and Actuator Division, CSIR - Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata 700032, India.
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Sensor and Actuator Division, CSIR - Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata 700032, India; CSIR - Network Institute of Solar Energy (CSIR-NISE), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Parukuttyamma Sujatha
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Devi
keywords: DSSC; QDSSC; ZnO; quantum dot; solar cells