A novel, PbS quantum dot-Sensitized solar cell structure with TiO2-fMWCNTS nano-composite filled meso-porous anatase TiO2 photoanode

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 204; pp. 617 - 623
• Main Authors: Latif, Hamid, Ashraf, Saima, Shahid Rafique, M., Imtiaz, Ayesha, Sattar, Abdul, Zaheer, S., Ammara Shabbir, Syeda, Usman, Arslan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2020; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Anatase; Charge efficiency; Cytology; Energy conversion; Energy conversion efficiency; Fabrication; Light harvesting; Multiwall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; PbS quantum dots; Photoanodes; Photovoltaic cells; Quantum dot sensitized solar cell; Quantum dots; Solar cells; Solar energy; TiO2 nano rod; Titanium dioxide; TiO2 nano rod; Quantum dot sensitized solar cell; Multiwall carbon nanotubes; PbS quantum dots; Light harvesting
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.03.114

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•A novel architecture of quantum dot sensitized solar cell has been proposed.•Proposed photoanodes have been grown using simple technique.•Efficiency dependence of photoanodes on PbS QDs concentration have been observed.•Power conversion efficiency of 5.2% for the proposed solar cell has been achieved.
The research deals with fabrication of a novel quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSC) architecture. Three devices, device 1, 2 and 3 with TiO2-fMWCNTs nano composite filled meso porous anatase TiO2 photoanodes, sensitized with PbS by 10, 15 and 20 SILAR cycles respectively were prepared. Decrease in optical band gap has been observed by increasing the SILAR cycles for PbS sensitization. QDSSC with TiO2-fMWCNTS nano-composite filled meso-porous anatase TiO2 photoanode showed a significant energy conversion efficiency of 3.8%, 5% and 5.6% for device 1, 2 and 3 respectively under the simulated light of 100 mW cm−2 with AM 1.5 filter. EIS analysis revealed that the device with highest power conversion efficiency has highest charge combination resistance (Rcr) 2852 Ω.