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Journal ArticleDOI

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...
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: ITSeCN has a favorable redox nature, which results in a more positive standard potential, larger diffusivity, and better kinetic heterogeneous rate constant than those of iodide, which suggested that transition-metal compound-type materials would be suitable for the newly synthesized ITSeCN mediator.
Abstract: A novel ionic-liquid mediator, 1-butyl-3-{2-oxo-2-[(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)amino]ethyl}-1H-imidazol-3-ium selenocyanate (ITSeCN), has been successfully synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). ITSeCN possesses dual redox channels, imidazolium-functionalized 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxyl (TEMPO) and selenocyanate, which can serve as the cationic redox mediator and the anionic redox mediator, respectively. Therefore, ITSeCN has a favorable redox nature, which results in a more positive standard potential, larger diffusivity, and better kinetic heterogeneous rate constant than those of iodide. The DSSC with the ITSeCN electrolyte shows an efficiency of 8.38 % with a high open-current voltage (VOC ) of 854.3 mV, and this VOC value is about 150 mV higher than that for the iodide-based DSSC. Moreover, different electrocatalytic materials were employed to trigger the redox reaction of ITSeCN. The ITSeCN-based DSSC with the CoSe counter electrode achieved the best performance of 9.01 %, which suggested that transition-metal compound-type materials would be suitable for our newly synthesized ITSeCN mediator.

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
10 Mar 2011-ACS Nano
TL;DR: It is shown that the density gradient ultracentrifugation rate separation method can be used to sort CdS NRs synthesized under nitrogen according to differences in particle size and morphology, and it was found that the different sized NRs formed in a single batch synthesis had different phases.
Abstract: Identifying the phase purity of CdS nanorods (NRs) is complicated by the serious overlap between the X-ray diffraction peaks of zinc blende and wurtzite phases as well as anisotropic growth, which might hide a mixed phase. Here we show that the density gradient ultracentrifugation rate separation method can be used to sort CdS NRs synthesized under nitrogen according to differences in particle size and morphology. Furthermore, it was found that the different sized NRs formed in a single batch synthesis had different phases: the thinner ones ( 5 nm in diameter) were mainly zinc blende phase. Dark-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM images indicated the presence of numerous stacking faults in the thick zinc blende rods, while the wurtzite thin rods were exclusively single crystals. As a result of the differences in phase and stacking faults, the NRs showed different photoluminescent properties. T...

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a pyrogallol red (PGR) molecule was chosen where PGR also can sensitize CdSe QDs, and a Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the charge-transfer behavior of the above system in an early time scale.
Abstract: To find a suitable hole-transporting adsorbate for CdSe quantum dots (QDs), a pyrogallol red (PGR) molecule was chosen where PGR also can sensitize CdSe QDs. Energy level diagrams suggest that the photoexcited hole can be transferred to PGR and photoexcited PGR can inject an electron into CdSe QDs. Steady-state and time-resolved emission studies suggest that the photoexcited hole is transferred to PGR; however, the process is too fast to monitor with the subnanosecond time-resolution spectroscopic technique. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the charge-transfer behavior of the above system in an early time scale. Photoexcitation of pure PGR and CdSe QDs at 400 nm laser light gives the transient absorption due to the photoexcited singlet state of PGR and charge carriers (electron/hole) in CdSe QDs, respectively, in the visible/near-IR region of the absorption spectra. However, on photoexcitation of the CdSe/PGR composite at 400 nm, the PGR cation radical and electro...

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The toxicity of CdTe QDs modified with three different ligands, namely mercaptopropionic acid, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and glutathione (GSH), were investigated via microcalorimetric, spectroscopic, and microscopic methods and indicate that the toxicity mechanism of QDs may be related to their bacterial adhesion.

35 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the first principles of quantum mechanical investigation on CdS quantum dots (QDs) adsorbed on anatase TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2NTs) in QDSSCs were performed using the density functional theory (DFT) approach.
Abstract: The first-principles quantum mechanical investigation on CdS quantum dots (QDs) adsorbed on anatase TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2NTs) in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) was performed using the density functional theory (DFT) approach. The geometry and electronic coupling between a CdS QD and the TiO2NT have been examined for the first time, together with a detailed discussion of interfacial electron transfer and electron transport models along the TiO2NT. It has been found that adsorbate states are introduced in the band gap of the TiO2NT upon the adsorption of a CdS QD on the TiO2NT surface, and an electron transfers from the sulfur atoms of a CdS QD to the conduction band of the TiO2NT upon adsorption of visible light. The unique TiO2NT structure offers a one-dimensional directional pathway for electron transport across the semiconductor substrate through titanium dx2–y2 and dz2 orbitals. Our work is of great benefit for understanding the charge separation process at the heterogeneous interface and t...

35 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
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

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Aug 2002-Science
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

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Dec 1995-Science
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

Journal ArticleDOI
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

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Sep 1998-Science
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