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Exploring the optical properties of lead zinc sulfide photoanodes for optoelectronics

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Abstract

In this study, the optical properties of alloyed lead zinc sulfide quantum dots (Pb0.8Zn0.2S QDs) photoanodes have been explored for optoelectronic applications. The alloyed QDs photoanodes were prepared by SILAR technique for different deposition cycles (0–8 times). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) were used to investigate the morphological and elemental measurements respectively. A UV–visible spectrophotometer was utilized to study the optical properties. The obtained energy band gap (Eg) values of the prepared photoanodes vary from 1.98 to 3.32 eV as the number of the deposition cycles is increased from 1 to 8 times. The best photovoltaic performance of the assembled QDs sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is achieved for the 6 times SILAR deposition cycles. This result is mainly attributed to the absorption enhancement and the harmony of the energetic alignment levels of the prepared QDSSC’s layers. The prepared alloyed photoanodes could be novel candidates in many optoelectronic applications.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif University, KSA [research project number: 1-440-6136]. We sincerely acknowledge the useful discussion of Prof. Dr. Fouad Abdul-Wahab at Aswan University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Badawi, Alia Hendi Al Otaibi, Ateyyah M. Al-Baradi, Saud A. Algarni, A. A. Atta & N. Al-Hosiny

  2. Departments of Physics, College of Science and Humanities-Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia

    Alia Hendi Al Otaibi

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulraheem S. A. Almalki

  4. Department of Physics, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt

    A. A. Atta

  5. Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Hend I. Alkhammash

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  1. Ali Badawi
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Badawi, A., Al Otaibi, A.H., Al-Baradi, A.M. et al. Exploring the optical properties of lead zinc sulfide photoanodes for optoelectronics. Appl. Phys. A 126, 726 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-03923-6

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