Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells via Integrated Experimental and Modeling Study

Abstract

The solar energy is one of the potential renewable green energy source considering the availability of sunlight in abundance and the need for clean and renewable source of energy. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals having considerable interest in photovoltaic research areas. Cadmium sulfide-sensitized solar cells are synthesized by Chemical bath deposition and titanium nanowires were fabricated by hydrothermal method. The synthesized CdS quantum dots are sensitized to nanoporous TiO2 films to form quantum dots-sensitized solar cell applications. The introduction of TNWs enables the electrolyte to penetrate easily inside the film which increases the interfacial contact between the nanowires, the quantum dots and the electrolyte results in improvement in efficiency of solar cell. The goal of our research is to understand the fundamental physics and performance of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells with improved photoconversion efficiency at the low cost based on selection of TiO2 nanostructures, sensitizers and electrodes through an integrated experimental and modeling study.