A simple synthesis route of low temperature CdSe-CdS core-shell quantum dots and its application in solar cell

Abstract

Synthesis of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) has become a major research area in the field of material science. Over the last two decades QDs have been employed successfully in sensitizing the mesoporous semiconductors like TiO2, ZnO etc. in various configurations thus giving birth to a new branch of low cost solar cells known as quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). In this paper we report low temperature synthesis of core-shell CdSe-CdS quantum dots (QDs) using wet chemical technique. A quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) was also prepared with the core-shell QDs as working electrode and a well explored solid polymer electrolyte. The QDSC was characterized and its stability was monitored for a period of two months in laboratory conditions.