Quantum Dot Solar Cells. Semiconductor Nanocrystals as Light Harvesters
18 Oct 2008-Journal of Physical Chemistry C (American Chemical Society)-Vol. 112, Iss: 48, pp 18737-18753
TL;DR: In this paper, three major ways to utilize semiconductor dots in solar cell include (i) metal−semiconductor or Schottky junction photovoltaic cell, (ii) polymer−smiconductor hybrid solar cell, and (iii) quantum dot sensitized solar cell.
Abstract: The emergence of semiconductor nanocrystals as the building blocks of nanotechnology has opened up new ways to utilize them in next generation solar cells. This paper focuses on the recent developments in the utilization of semiconductor quantum dots for light energy conversion. Three major ways to utilize semiconductor dots in solar cell include (i) metal−semiconductor or Schottky junction photovoltaic cell (ii) polymer−semiconductor hybrid solar cell, and (iii) quantum dot sensitized solar cell. Modulation of band energies through size control offers new ways to control photoresponse and photoconversion efficiency of the solar cell. Various strategies to maximize photoinduced charge separation and electron transfer processes for improving the overall efficiency of light energy conversion are discussed. Capture and transport of charge carriers within the semiconductor nanocrystal network to achieve efficient charge separation at the electrode surface remains a major challenge. Directing the future resear...
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TL;DR: A facile, less toxic, highly concentrated synthetic method utilizing the heretofore unrecognized, easily decomposable capping ligand of triphenylphosphate is reported, where phase-pure, single-crystalline, and well-dispersed colloidal CZTS nanocrystals were obtained.
Abstract: Among various candidate materials, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a promising earth-abundant semiconductor for low-cost thin film solar cells. We report a facile, less toxic, highly concentrated synthetic method utilizing the heretofore unrecognized, easily decomposable capping ligand of triphenylphosphate, where phase-pure, single-crystalline, and well-dispersed colloidal CZTS nanocrystals were obtained. The favorable influence of the easily decomposable capping ligand on the microstructural evolution of device-quality CZTS absorber layers was clarified based on a comparative study with commonly used oleylamine-capped CZTS nanoparticles. The resulting CZTS nanoparticles enabled us to produce a dense and crack-free absorbing layer through annealing under a N2 + H2S (4%) atmosphere, demonstrating a solar cell with an efficiency of 3.6% under AM 1.5 illumination.
40 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that specific variations in particle morphology and surface chemistry determine the mechanism and efficiency of charge separation and recombination in these nanostructures, and therefore impact their excited-state dynamics to a greater extent than the heterostructure energy level alignment alone.
Abstract: Type-II and quasi type-II heterostructure nanocrystals are known to exhibit extended excited-state lifetimes compared to their single material counterparts because of reduced wave function overlap between the electron and hole. However, due to fast and efficient hole trapping and nonuniform morphologies, the photophysics of dot-in-rod heterostructures are more rich and complex than this simple picture. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we observe that the behavior of electrons in the CdS “rod” or “bulb” regions of nonuniform ZnSe/CdS and CdSe/CdS dot-in-rods is similar regardless of the “dot” material, which supports previous work demonstrating that hole trapping and particle morphology drive electron dynamics. Furthermore, we show that the longest lived state in these dot-in-rods is not generated by the type-II or quasi type-II band alignment between the dot and the rod, but rather by electron–hole dissociation that occurs due to fast hole trapping in the CdS rod and electron localization to the b...
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, two configurations for the photoanodes were designed and studied with mesoporous TiO2 beads combined with nanoparticles: a double-layer configuration composed of a thick bead layer on top of a thin nanoparticle layer, and a mixture structure made of mixed meso2 beads and nanoparticles.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a disintegration-reassembly route for the synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystalline hollow spheres with controlled crystallinity and enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed.
Abstract: A novel disintegration–reassembly route is reported for the synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystalline hollow spheres with controlled crystallinity and enhanced photocatalytic activity. In this unique synthesis strategy, it is demonstrated that sol–gel-derived mesoporous TiO2 colloidal spheres can be disintegrated into discrete small nanoparticles that are uniformly embedded in the polymer (polystyrene, PS) matrix by surface-induced photocatalytic polymerization. Subsequent reassembly of these TiO2 nanoparticles can be induced by an annealing process after further coating of a resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) resin, which forms self-supported hollow spheres of TiO2 at the PS/RF interface. The abundant phenolic groups on the RF resin serve as anchoring sites for the TiO2 nanoparticles, thus enable the reassembly of the TiO2 nanoparticles and prevent their sintering during the thermal crystallization process. This unique disintegration–reassembly process leads to the formation of self-supported TiO2 hollow spheres with relatively large surface area, high crystallinity, and superior photocatalytic activity in dye degradation under UV light irradiation.
40 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, an upper theoretical limit for the efficiency of p−n junction solar energy converters, called the detailed balance limit of efficiency, has been calculated for an ideal case in which the only recombination mechanism of holeelectron pairs is radiative as required by the principle of detailed balance.
Abstract: In order to find an upper theoretical limit for the efficiency of p‐n junction solar energy converters, a limiting efficiency, called the detailed balance limit of efficiency, has been calculated for an ideal case in which the only recombination mechanism of hole‐electron pairs is radiative as required by the principle of detailed balance. The efficiency is also calculated for the case in which radiative recombination is only a fixed fraction fc of the total recombination, the rest being nonradiative. Efficiencies at the matched loads have been calculated with band gap and fc as parameters, the sun and cell being assumed to be blackbodies with temperatures of 6000°K and 300°K, respectively. The maximum efficiency is found to be 30% for an energy gap of 1.1 ev and fc = 1. Actual junctions do not obey the predicted current‐voltage relationship, and reasons for the difference and its relevance to efficiency are discussed.
11,071 citations
TL;DR: Many potential applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes, including conductive and high-strength composites; energy storage and energy conversion devices; sensors; field emission displays and radiation sources; hydrogen storage media; and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnects.
Abstract: Many potential applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes, including conductive and high-strength composites; energy storage and energy conversion devices; sensors; field emission displays and radiation sources; hydrogen storage media; and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnects. Some of these applications are now realized in products. Others are demonstrated in early to advanced devices, and one, hydrogen storage, is clouded by controversy. Nanotube cost, polydispersity in nanotube type, and limitations in processing and assembly methods are important barriers for some applications of single-walled nanotubes.
9,693 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the carrier collection efficiency and energy conversion efficiency of polymer photovoltaic cells were improved by blending of the semiconducting polymer with C60 or its functionalized derivatives.
Abstract: The carrier collection efficiency (ηc) and energy conversion efficiency (ηe) of polymer photovoltaic cells were improved by blending of the semiconducting polymer with C60 or its functionalized derivatives. Composite films of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) and fullerenes exhibit ηc of about 29 percent of electrons per photon and ηe of about 2.9 percent, efficiencies that are better by more than two orders of magnitude than those that have been achieved with devices made with pure MEH-PPV. The efficient charge separation results from photoinduced electron transfer from the MEH-PPV (as donor) to C60 (as acceptor); the high collection efficiency results from a bicontinuous network of internal donor-acceptor heterojunctions.
9,611 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe recent progress in the theory of nanoparticle optical properties, particularly methods for solving Maxwell's equations for light scattering from particles of arbitrary shape in a complex environment.
Abstract: The optical properties of metal nanoparticles have long been of interest in physical chemistry, starting with Faraday's investigations of colloidal gold in the middle 1800s. More recently, new lithographic techniques as well as improvements to classical wet chemistry methods have made it possible to synthesize noble metal nanoparticles with a wide range of sizes, shapes, and dielectric environments. In this feature article, we describe recent progress in the theory of nanoparticle optical properties, particularly methods for solving Maxwell's equations for light scattering from particles of arbitrary shape in a complex environment. Included is a description of the qualitative features of dipole and quadrupole plasmon resonances for spherical particles; a discussion of analytical and numerical methods for calculating extinction and scattering cross-sections, local fields, and other optical properties for nonspherical particles; and a survey of applications to problems of recent interest involving triangula...
9,086 citations
TL;DR: Semiconductor nanocrystals prepared for use as fluorescent probes in biological staining and diagnostics have a narrow, tunable, symmetric emission spectrum and are photochemically stable.
Abstract: Semiconductor nanocrystals were prepared for use as fluorescent probes in biological staining and diagnostics. Compared with conventional fluorophores, the nanocrystals have a narrow, tunable, symmetric emission spectrum and are photochemically stable. The advantages of the broad, continuous excitation spectrum were demonstrated in a dual-emission, single-excitation labeling experiment on mouse fibroblasts. These nanocrystal probes are thus complementary and in some cases may be superior to existing fluorophores.
8,542 citations