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Metal chalcogenide complex-mediated fabrication of Cu2S film as counter electrode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Cu2S film onto FTO glass substrate was obtained to function as counter electrode for polysulfide redox reactions in CdS/CdSe co-sensitized solar cells by sintering after spraying a metal chalcogenide complex, N4H9Cu7S4 solution. Relative to Pt counter electrode, the Cu2S counter electrode provides greater electrocatalytic activity and lower charge transfer resistance. The prepared Cu2S counter electrode represented nanoflower-like porous film which was composed of Cu2S nanosheets on FTO and had a higher surface area and lower sheet resistance than that of sulfided brass Cu2S counter electrode. An energy conversion efficiency of 3.62% was achieved using the metal chalcogenide complex-mediated fabricated Cu2S counter electrode for CdS/CdSe co-sensitized solar cells under 1 sun, AM 1.5 illumination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Novel Thin Film Solar Cells, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China

    XueChao Yu, Jun Zhu, Feng Liu, JunFeng Wei, LinHua Hu & SongYuan Dai

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  1. XueChao Yu
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  2. Jun Zhu
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  3. Feng Liu
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  4. JunFeng Wei
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  5. LinHua Hu
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  6. SongYuan Dai
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Correspondence to Jun Zhu or SongYuan Dai.

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Yu, X., Zhu, J., Liu, F. et al. Metal chalcogenide complex-mediated fabrication of Cu2S film as counter electrode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Sci. China Chem. 56, 977–981 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-012-4810-8

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