Skip to main content
Log in

A transparent photovoltaic device of NiO/MgO quantum dots/TiO2 arrays pn junction with carrier injection of MgO QDs

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A transparent photovoltaic device of NiO/MgO QDs/TiO2 array pn junction was fabricated via a continuous hydrothermal-hydrolysis-sputtering method. Therefore, the TiO2 arrays were prepared via a hydrothermal method, and the MgO QDs prepared by hydrolysis method were introduced on the surface of TiO2 arrays. Subsequently, the NiO film was deposited on the surface of MgO QDs/TiO2 arrays by sputtering. As revealed, the as-prepared transparent photovoltaic device exhibits a high transmittance of about ~ 80% in visible light, an obvious photovoltaic enhancement of about ~ 3 × 102 folds (PCE of 1.18%) than unmodified device, and decent stability during 3000 s’ cycle, which can be mainly ascribed to that the MgO QDs with high quantum yield and appropriate potential can increase the charge carrier injection and assuage the potential gradient to improve the charge carriers efficiency, while maintaining the transparency. Additionally, the small size of MgO QDs can improve pn junction interface and the orderly arrays can increase solar efficiency.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Lin, X.P. Bai, H.Y. Wang, H.L. Wang, J.N. Song, K. Huang, C. Wang, N. Wang, B. Li, M. Lei, H. Wu, Roll-to-roll production of transparent silver nanofiber network electrode for flexible electrochromic smart windows. Adv. Mater. 29, 1703238 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. S.J. Shen, Z.P. Lin, K. Song, Z.P. Wang, L.A. Huang, L.H. Yan, F.Q. Meng, Q.H. Zhang, L. Gu, W.W. Zhong, Reversed active sites boost the intrinsic activity of graphene-like cobalt selenide for hydrogen evolution. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 12360–12365 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J.Q. Pan, Z.F. Chen, P.H. Wang, P.P. Wang, Q. Yu, W.J. Zhao, J.J. Wang, M. Zhu, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The overall water splitting of CdS/Ti3+-SrTiO3 core–shell heterojunction via OER enhancement of MnOx nanoparticles. Chem. Eng. J. 424, 130357 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Q.H. Tian, F. Zhang, W. Zhang, L. Yang, Non-smooth carbon coating porous SnO2 quasi-nanocubes towards high lithium storage. Electrochim. Acta 307, 393–402 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Z.P. Lin, S.J. Shen, Z.P. Wang, W.W. Zhong, Laser ablation in air and its application in catalytic water splitting and Li-ion battery. iScience 24, 102469 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y.W. Ma, Y.F. Lu, G.T. Hai, W.J. Dong, R.J. Li, J.H. Liu, G. Wang, Bidentate carboxylate linked TiO2 with NH2-MIL-101(Fe) photocatalyst: a conjugation effect platform for high photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. Sci. Bull. 65, 658–669 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. W.J. Liu, M.L. Liu, X.M. Liu, X.T. Wang, H.X. Deng, M. Lei, Z.M. Wei, Z.Y. Wei, Recent advances of 2D materials in nonlinear photonics and fiber lasers. Adv. Opt. Mater. 8, 1901631 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J.Q. Pan, P.H. Wang, P.P. Wang, Q. Yu, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The photocatalytic overall water splitting hydrogen production of g-C3N4/CdS hollow core–shell heterojunction via the HER/OER matching of Pt/MnOx. Chem. Eng. J. 405, 126622 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Lin, H.Y. Wang, X.N. Zhang, D. Wang, D. Zu, J.N. Song, Z.L. Liu, Y. Huang, K. Huang, N. Tao, Z.W. Li, X.P. Bai, B. Li, M. Lei, Z.F. Yu, H. Wu, Direct spray-coating of highly robust and transparent ag nanowires for energy saving windows. Nano Energy 62, 111–116 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Dridi, N. Bitri, S. Mahjoubi, F. Chaabouni, I. Ly, One-step spray of Cu2NiSnS4 thin films as absorber materials for photovoltaic applications. J Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 31, 7193–7199 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. J.Q. Pan, S. Li, W. Ou, Y.Y. Liu, H.L. Li, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The photovoltaic conversion enhancement of NiO/Tm:CeO2/SnO2 transparent p-n junction device with dual-functional Tm:CeO2 quantum dots. Chem. Eng. J. 393, 124802 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. K. Bi, Q.M. Wang, J.C. Xu, L.H. Chen, C.W. Lan, M. Lei, All-dielectric metamaterial fabrication techniques. Adv. Opt. Mater. 9, 2001474 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. D.J. Friedman, S.R. Kurtz, Breakeven criteria for the GaInNAs junction in GaInP/GaAs/GaInNAs/Ge four-junction solar cells. Prog. Photovolt.: Res. Appl. 10, 331–344 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Y. Masafumi, T. Tatsuya, A. Kenji, Super high-efficiency multi-junction and concentrator solar cells. Solar Energy Mater. Solar Cells 90, 3068–3077 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. W.J. Liu, M.L. Liu, X.M. Liu, M. Lei, Z.Y. Wei, Saturable absorption properties and femtosecond mode-locking application of titanium trisulfide. Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 061901 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. K. Wang, R. Fu, G. Wang, H. Tran, B. Chang, L. Yang, High-performance photon-enhanced thermionic emission solar energy converters with AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs cathode under multilevel built-in electric field. Opt. Commun. 402, 85–90 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. S. Lin, H.Y. Wang, F. Wu, Q.M. Wang, X.P. Bai, D. Zu, J.N. Song, D. Wang, Z.L. Liu, Z.W. Li, N. Tao, K. Huang, M. Lei, B. Li, H. Wu, Room-temperature production of silver-nanofiber film for large-area, transparent and flexible surface electromagnetic interference shielding. NPJ Flex. Electron. 3, 6 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. J.Q. Pan, S. Li, Y.Y. Liu, W. Ou, H.L. Li, W.J. Zhao, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The flexible-transparent p-n junction film device of N-doped Cu2O/SnO2 orderly nanowire arrays towards highly photovoltaic conversion and stability. Chem. Eng. J. 382, 122813 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Hermle, G. Létay, S.P. Philipps, A.W. Bett, Numerical simulation of tunnel diodes for multi-junction solar cells. Prog. Photovolt.: Res. Appl. 16, 409–418 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. J.D. Frank, D.N. Tibbits, N. Markus, P. Felix, B. Paul, K. Christian, O. Eduard, S. Gerald, L. David, F.K. Peter, W.A. Bett, R. Krause, C. Drazek, E. Guiot, J. Wasselin, A. Tauzin, S. Thomas, Four-junction wafer-bonded concentrator solar cells. IEEE J. Photovolt. 6, 344–349 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Y.Y. Duan, G. Zhao, X.T. Liu, J.L. Ma, S.Y. Chen, Y.L. Song, X.D. Pi, X.G. Yu, D.R. Yang, Y.Q. Zhang, F. Guo, Low-temperature processed tantalum/niobium co-doped TiO2 electron transport layer for high-performance planar perovskite solar cells. Nanotechnology 32, 245201 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. H.I. Elsaeedy, A. Qasem, H.A. Yakout, M. Mahmoud, The pivotal role of TiO2 layer thickness in optimizing the performance of TiO2/P-Si solar cell. J Alloys Compd. 867, 159150 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Q.H. Tian, J.B. Yan, L. Yang, J.Z. Chen, Fabrication of three-dimensional carbon coating for SnO2/TiO2 hybrid anode material of lithium-ion batteries. Electrochim. Acta 282, 38–47 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. K. Xu, Z. Liu, S.H. Qi, Z.Z. Yin, S.K. Deng, M. Zhang, Z.Q. Sun, The quaternary system of Ag2S/ZnS co-modified ZnO/TiO2 nanotree arrays: excellent photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry performance. Appl. Surf. Sci. 538, 148044 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. I.R. Jo, Y.H. Lee, H. Kim, K.S. Ahn, Multifunctional nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots incorporated into mesoporous TiO2 films for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. J Alloys Compd. 870, 159527 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Torres, J. Sanchez-Diaz, J.M. Rivas, J. de la Torre, I. Zarazua, D. Esparza, Electrical properties and J-V modeling of perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) solar cells after external thermal exposure. Sol. Energy 222, 95–102 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. J.C. Liu, S. Lin, K. Huang, C. Jia, Q.M. Wang, Z.W. Li, J.N. Song, Z.L. Liu, H.Y. Wang, M. Lei, H. Wu, A large-area AgNW-modified gauze with high-performance. NPJ Flex Electron. 4, 10 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. D.G. Atinafu, W.J. Dong, M.G. Du, Controllable synthesis and surface modification of molybdenum oxide nanowires: a short review. Tungsten 1, 258–265 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. S. Lin, J.C. Liu, W.Z. Li, D. Wang, Y. Huang, C. Jia, Z.W. Li, H.Y. Wang, J.N. Song, Z.L. Liu, K. Huang, D. Zu, M. Lei, B. Hong, H. Wu, A flexible, robust and gel-free electroencephalogram electrode for noninvasive brain-computer interfaces. Nano Lett. 19, 6853–6861 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Y.H. Hou, J. Zhang, Q.M. Yang, C. Wang, H. Tang, S.C. Yan, Z.G. Zou, ALD-grown oxide protective layers on Ta3N5-Cu2O n-p nanoarray heterojunction for improved photoelectrochemical water splitting. Appl. Phys. Lett. 117, 163902 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. H.L. Feng, W.Q. Wu, H.S. Rao, Q. Wan, L.B. Li, D.B. Kuang, C.Y. Su, Three-dimensional TiO2/ZnO hybrid array as a heterostructured anode for efficient quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 7, 5199–5205 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. C.L. Zhang, M.F. Shao, F.Y. Ning, S.M. Xu, Z.H. Li, M. Wei, D.G. Evans, X. Duan, Au nanoparticles sensitized ZnO nanorod@nanoplatelet core-shell arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting. Nano Energy 12, 231–239 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. F.M. Wu, J.P. Gao, S.S. Zuo, W. Wang, H.X. Qiu, Cu2O-loaded heteroatom-doped worm-like hierarchical porous carbon flakes for high-performance energy storage devices. Chem. Eng. Sci. 236, 116530 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. S. Ullah, G. Wan, C. Kouzios, C. Woodgate, M. Cattelan, N. Fox, Structure and electronic properties of tin monoxide (SnO) and lithiated SnO terminated diamond (100) and its comparison with lithium oxide terminated diamond. Appl. Surf. Sci. 559, 149962 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. D.D. Wei, W.J. Tang, Y.L. Wang, Hairy sphere-like Ni9S8/CuS/CuO composites grown on nickel foam as bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution and urea electrooxidation. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 46, 20950–20960 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. S.H. Baek, Y.M. Jeong, S.C. Shin, B.J. Choi, J.H. Han, Tunable solid electrolyte interphase formation on SiO anodes using SnO artificial layers for Lithium-ion batteries. Appl. Surf. Sci. 549, 149028 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. K.O. Egbo, S.K. Shil, C.G. Kwok, Y. Wang, C.P. Liu, K.M. Yu, Band alignment of wide bandgap NiO/MoO3 and NiO/WO3 p-n heterojunctions studied by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. J Alloys Compds. 876, 160136 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. K. Nam, H.W. Ryu, M.Y. Gim, D.H. Kim, Enhanced reactivity and stability in methane dehydro-aromatization over Mo/HZSM-5 physically mixed with NiO. Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 296, 120377 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. C.S.K. Reddy, F.J. Willars-Rodriguez, R.R. Ramirez Bon, Self-powered broadband photodetector based on a solution-processed p-NiO/n-CdS: Al heterojunction. Nanotechnology 32, 095202 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. T.A. Geleta, T. Imae, Nanocomposite photoanodes consisting of p-NiO/n-ZnO heterojunction and carbon quantum dot additive for dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 4, 236–249 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Z.P. Wang, Z.P. Lin, J. Deng, S.J. Shen, F.Q. Meng, J.T. Zhang, Q.H. Zhang, W.W. Zhong, L. Gu, Elevating the d-band center of six-coordinated octahedrons in Co9S8 through Fe-incorporated topochemical deintercalation. Adv. Energy Mater. 11, 2003023 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. A. Das, D. Singh, C.P. Saini, R. Ahuja, A. Kaur, S. Aliukov, Orbital hybridization-induced band offset phenomena in NixCd1-xO thin films. Nanoscale 12, 669–686 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. J.Q. Pan, Z.J. Dong, Z.Y. Jiang, C. Zhao, B.B. Wang, W.J. Zhao, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, MoS2 quantum dots modified black Ti3+-TiO2/g-C3N4 hollow nanosphere heterojunction toward photocatalytic hydrogen production enhancement. Solar RRL 3, 1900337 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. W.W. Zhong, Z.P. Wang, N. Gao, L.A. Huang, Z.P. Lin, Y.P. Liu, F.Q. Meng, J. Deng, S.F. Jin, Q.H. Zhang, L. Gu, Coupled vacancy pairs in Ni-doped CoSe for improved electrocatalytic hydrogen production through topochemical deintercalation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 59, 22743 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. W.J. Liu, M.L. Liu, X. Chen, T. Shen, M. Lei, J.G. Guo, H.X. Deng, W. Zhang, C.Q. Dai, X.F. Zhang, Z.Y. Wei, Ultrafast photonics of two dimensional material AuTe2Se4/3 in fiber lasers. Commun. Phys. 3, 15 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. J.Q. Pan, Y.Y. Liu, W. Ou, S. Li, H.L. Li, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution enhancement of the MoS2 lamellas modified g-C3N4/SrTiO3 core-shell heterojunction. Renew. Energy 161, 340–349 (2020)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. R.G. Quhe, J.C. Liu, J.X. Wu, J. Yang, Y.Y. Wang, Q.H. Li, T.R. Li, J.B. Yang, H.L. Peng, M. Lei, J. Lu, High-performance sub-10 nm monolayer Bi2O2Se transistors. Nanoscale 11, 532–540 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. W.W. Zhong, B.B. Xiao, Z.P. Lin, Z.P. Wang, L.A. Huang, S.J. Shen, Q.H. Zhang, L. Gu, RhSe2: a superior 3D electrocatalyst with multiple active facets for hydrogen evolution reaction in both acid and alkaline solutions. Adv. Mater. 33, 2007894 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. M. Sotodeian, M. Marandi, Effects of PbS quantum dots layer and different light scattering films on the photovoltaic performance of double passivated PbS, CdS and CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells. Sol. Energy 221, 418–432 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. T. Chen, S.W. Yang, J. Wang, W. Chen, L.F. Liu, Y. Wang, S.J. Cheng, X. Zhao, Flexible artificial memristive synapse constructed from solution-processed MgO-Graphene oxide quantum dot hybrid films. Adv. Electron. Mater. 7, 2000882 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. S.H. Park, D. Ahn, Screening effects on the optical properties of II-VI wurtzite ZnO/MgO quantum dots. Phys. Rev. B 97, 075301 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. W.J. Kuang, Q. Li, Y. Sun, J. Chen, H. Tolner, Near-band-edge emission characteristics of ZnO-MgO coreshell quantum-dots. Mater. Lett. 178, 27–30 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. S.H. Park, W.P. Hong, J.J. Kim, Piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization effects on exciton binding energy and light emission properties of wurtzite ZnO/MgO quantum dots. Solid State Commun. J. 26, 21–25 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Y.S. Wang, S.H. Lu, W.J. Duan, Growth and optical properties of ZnO/MgO core/shell nanoparticles. J. Nanosci. Nanotech. Lett 14, 3485 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. W.J. Kuang, Q. Li, Y. Sun, J. Chen, H. Tolner, Role of substrate architecture and modelling on photocurrent and photovoltage in TiO2/NiO transparent photovoltaic. Mater. Lett. 178, 27–30 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. J.Z. Chen, H.Y. Du, Y.F. Xu, B.Y. Ma, Z.H. Zheng, P.C. Li, Y.Q. Jiang, A turn-on fluorescent sensor based on coffee-ground carbon dots for the detection of sodium cyclamate. J Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 32, 13581–13587 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. J. Zhao, Z.Q. Zheng, W.L. Liu, X.F. Tang, D.F. Jin, X.X. Wang, Two-dimensional ruddlesden-popper hybrid perovskite quantum dots for optical limiting application. J Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 32, 12922–12928 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. J.Q. Pan, P.H. Wang, Z.F. Chen, Q. Yu, P.P. Wang, M. Zhu, W.J. Zhao, J.J. Wang, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, The Pt-free 1T/2H-MoS2/CdS/MnOx hollow core-shell nanocomposites toward overall water splitting via HER/OER synergy of 1T-MoS2/MnOx. Mater. Today Chem. 21, 100528 (2021)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. J.J. Ma, G. Yang, M.C. Qin, X.L. Zheng, H.W. Lei, C. Chen, Z.L. Chen, Y.X. Guo, H.W. Han, X.Z. Zhao, G.J. Fang, Adv. Sci. 4, 1700031 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. C. Zhao, J.Q. Pan, B.B. Wang, Z.J. Dong, Z.Y. Jiang, J.J. Wang, C.S. Song, Y.Y. Zheng, C.R. Li, Photoelectric conversion enhancement of Ag modified p-type Cu2O/n-type ZnO transparent heterojunction device. J Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 29, 20485–20492 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51802282 and 51672249).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chaorong Li.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There are no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 586 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, W., Pan, J., Niu, J. et al. A transparent photovoltaic device of NiO/MgO quantum dots/TiO2 arrays pn junction with carrier injection of MgO QDs. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 652–662 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07333-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07333-z

Navigation