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Synthesis and characterization of ZnO/ZnSe NWs/PbS QDs solar cell

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Abstract

The capture of solar energy has gained the attention for the next generation solar cell. ZnO/ZnSe NW arrays were synthesized on an FTO glass substrate using a simple and facile hydrothermal and ion-exchange approaches. The lead sulfide (PbS) QDs was infiltrated into ZnO/ZnSe NWs via SILAR method for making inorganic quantum dot sensitized ZnO/ZnSe/PbS QDs solar cell. The surface morphology, structural, optical, and J-V characteristics have been investigated. The ZnO/ZnSe NW is a core–shell like structure, and the absorption edge shifted from the UV region (ZnO NWs) to the near infrared region for ZnO/ZnSe NWs/PbS QDs. For PbS QDs-sensitized solar cell, the obtained value of η = 1.1%, J sc = 20.60 mA/cm2, V oc = 155 mV, and FF = 34.7%, respectively. The photovoltaic performance of the device in this study is still inferior. However, it is the first report regarding to ZnO/ZnZe NWs/PbS QDs solar cell. The achieving high absorption and large short circuit current density may interest in further improvement of the device performance by suppressing surface defects, optimizing the quality of ZnO/ZnSe NWs and PbS QDs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong, SAR, China (Project No. CityU 122812). The authors would like to thank Mr. Zhang Zhenyu for helping TEM images.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Materials Science and Center Of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People’s Republic of China

    M Kamruzzaman & J A Zapien

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  1. M Kamruzzaman
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  2. J A Zapien
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Correspondence to M Kamruzzaman or J A Zapien.

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Kamruzzaman, M., Zapien, J.A. Synthesis and characterization of ZnO/ZnSe NWs/PbS QDs solar cell. J Nanopart Res 19, 125 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3729-y

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