Nanostructured TiO2 sensitized with CuS quantum dots for solar energy conversion

• Published in: Research on chemical intermediates Vol. 50; no. 11; pp. 5183 - 5199
• Main Authors: Pawar, Renuka A., Teli, Shivanand B., Patil, Sandip S., Garadkar, Kalyanrao M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-11-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper converters; Copper sulfides; Crystallites; Electromagnetic absorption; Image enhancement; Inorganic Chemistry; Luminous intensity; Photoanodes; Photoluminescence; Photovoltaic cells; Physical Chemistry; Quantum dots; Sensitizing; Solar cells; Solar energy conversion; Surface chemistry; Thin films; Titanium dioxide; Quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSC); Solar cell efficiency; CuS QDs; X-ray diffraction; Sensitization; Titanium dioxide; Bandgap
• ISSN: 0922-6168; 1568-5675
• DOI: 10.1007/s11164-024-05417-z

The present paper contains the preparation of QDs sensitized on TiO
2
thin film as a photoanode for solar cell applications. The photoanode is developed by copper sulfide quantum dots (CuS QDs) on TiO
2
thin films using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). CuS QDs act as sensitizer because of its strong visible light absorption. Fabrication process comprises sensitizing CuS QDs on the surface of TiO
2
thin films controlled by 5 and 10 SILAR cycles. XRD study indicates the crystallite size of TiO
2
/CuS QDs thin films is 11.6 and 13.7 nm for 5 and 10 cycles (cys), respectively. The outcome of UV-DRS and photoluminescence indicates the enhanced light absorption, reduction in bandgap and suppression of electron–hole pair recombination. The HR-TEM image revealed that the diameter of the TiO
2
is 10 nm and surroundings core-like CuS particles are observed. The TiO
2
/CuS QDs (10 cys) configuration showed a better photoelectrochemical efficiency of 2.55% at 30 mW cm
−2
light intensity.