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CdS x Se1−x alloyed quantum dots-sensitized solar cells based on different architectures of anodic oxidation TiO2 film

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Abstract

Nanostructured TiO2 translucent films with different architectures including TiO2 nanotube (NT), TiO2 nanowire (NW), and TiO2 nanowire/nanotube (NW/NT) have been produced by second electrochemical oxidization of TiO2 NT with diameter around 90–110 nm via modulation of applied voltage. These TiO2 architectures are sensitized with CdS x Se1−x alloyed quantum dots (QDs) in sizes of around 3–5 nm aiming to tune the response of the photoelectrochemical properties in the visible region. One-step hydrothermal method facilitates the deposition of CdS x Se1−x QDs onto TiO2 films. These CdS x Se1−x QDs exhibit a tunable range of light absorption with changing the feed molar ratio of S:Se in precursor solution, and inject electrons into TiO2 films upon excitation with visible light, enabling their application as photosensitizers in sensitized solar cells. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.00, 1.72, and 1.06 % are achieved with CdS x Se1−x (obtained with S:Se = 0:4) alloyed QDs sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 NW/NT, TiO2 NW, and TiO2 NT architectures, respectively. The significant enhancement of power conversion efficiency obtained with the CdS x Se1−x /TiO2 NW/NT solar cell can be attributed to the extended absorption of light region tuned by CdS x Se1−x alloyed QDs and enlarged deposition of QDs and efficient electrons transport provided by TiO2 NW/NT architecture.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support for this work from the Key Project of Tianjin Sci-Tech Support Program (No. 08ZCKFH01400).

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People’s Republic of China

    Zhen Li, Libo Yu, Yingbo Liu & Shuqing Sun

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  1. Zhen Li
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  2. Libo Yu
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Correspondence to Shuqing Sun.

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Li, Z., Yu, L., Liu, Y. et al. CdS x Se1−x alloyed quantum dots-sensitized solar cells based on different architectures of anodic oxidation TiO2 film. J Nanopart Res 16, 2779 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2779-2

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