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CdSe x S1−x /CdS-cosensitized 3D TiO2 hierarchical nanostructures for efficient energy conversion

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Abstract

Three-dimensional TiO2 hierarchical nanostructures (3D-TiO2-HNs) containing TiO2 nanotrees and nest-like hollow spheres were synthesized and used as backbones for CdSe x S1−x quantum dot (QD) loading. These CdSe x S1−x QD-sensitized 3D-TiO2-HNs were then used as photoelectrodes in the preparation of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells. As revealed by TEM images, the highly porous 3D-TiO2-HNs represent an excellent framework on which to deposit a large number of CdSe x S1−x QDs in order to form homogeneous and compact CdSe x S1−x -sensitized layers in photoelectrodes using a spin-assisted successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method (spin-SILAR). Following careful adjustment of the molar ratio of Se2− to S2−, the number of spin-SILAR cycles, and the thickness of the CdS passivation layer used, the best-performing QDSC was shown to yield a short-circuit current density of 18.22 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.520 V, a fill factor of 0.510, and a power conversion efficiency of 4.83%. This high performance is possible because the device is able to absorb a relatively broad range of wavelengths and because charge recombination is suppressed in the device.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 61474047, 51002053, and 51472094), the Fujian Provincial Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (2015 J06011), the Fujian Provincial Youth Top-Notch Talents Supporting Program, the Prominent Young Talents and New Century Excellent Talents Supporting Programs at Fujian Provincial University, and the Promotion Program for Young and Middle-Aged Teachers in Science and Technology Research of Huaqiao University (ZQN-YX102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Environment-Friendly Functional Materials, Ministry of Education; Institute of Materials Physical Chemistry; College of Materials Science & Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Zhang Lan, Xin Chen, Sheng Zhang & Jihuai Wu

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  1. Zhang Lan
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  2. Xin Chen
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  3. Sheng Zhang
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  4. Jihuai Wu
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Correspondence to Zhang Lan.

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Lan, Z., Chen, X., Zhang, S. et al. CdSe x S1−x /CdS-cosensitized 3D TiO2 hierarchical nanostructures for efficient energy conversion. J Solid State Electrochem 22, 347–353 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3748-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3748-3

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