Photovoltaic Performance of Ag2Se Quantum Dots Co-sensitized Solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

doi:10.15541/jim20180233

Abstract

Abstract:

Ag₂Se quantum dots (QDs) was synthesized by co-deposition method which was further applied as co-sensitizer in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The effects of different sensitization methods of Ag₂Se QDs (TiO₂/N719/QDs, TiO₂/QDs/N719) and sensitization time (0-5 h) on the performance of QDs/dye co-sensitized solar cells were studied. Structure and optical properties of Ag₂Se QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Furthermore, the transmission of charge carriers of solar cell devices was characterized by photo-modulated photocurrent/voltage spectrum (IMPS/VS) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). It was found that the device with TiO₂/QDs/N719 showed higher incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and photoelectric efficiency than those of TiO₂/N719/QDs, which was due to the fact that TiO₂/QDs/N719 photoanode adsorbed more QDs and dyes. With the extension of Ag₂Se QDs sensitization time, the photovoltaic properties of DSSCs firstly ascended and then descended, achieving the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency 3.97%. The incorporation of Ag₂Se QDs could effectively promote the electron transport and inhibit the electron-hole recombination, which benefited from a blocking layer that QDs served in device. As sensitization time prolonged over 2 h, the photovoltaic performances of device deteriorated, which was attributed to the augmented trap sites in Ag₂Se QDs layer.

Key words: Ag₂Se quantum dots, co-deposition method, co-sensitized, dye-sensitized solar cell

CLC Number:

TM914

YANG Ying, PAN De-Qun, ZHANG Zheng, CHEN Tian, HAN Xiao-Min, ZHANG Li-Song, GUO Xue-Yi. Photovoltaic Performance of Ag₂Se Quantum Dots Co-sensitized Solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2019, 34(2): 137-144.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 (a)Transmission electron microscope (TEM) image, (b) size distribution histogram, (c) HRTEM image, and (d) zoom-in HRTEM image of the Ag2Se quantum dots

Fig. 2 (a) Absorption spectrum and (b) corresponding Tauc plot of the Ag2Se quantum dots in ethanol solution

Fig. 3 (a) UV-Vis spectra of photoanodes with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization methods with inset showing photographs of photoandes, and (b) J-V curve of DSSCs with different sensitization methods

Table 1 Photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs with different sensitized methods

Sample	J_sc/(mA∙cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	ƞ/%
TiO₂/dye	8.78	0.69	0.50	2.96
TiO₂/dye/QDs	8.08	0.71	0.48	2.74
TiO₂/QDs/dye	9.18	0.74	0.53	3.59

Fig. 4 IPCE spectra of DSSCs with different sensitization methods

Fig. 5 (a) Device structure and (b) energy level diagram of solid-state Ag2Se QDs and dye co-sensitized solar cell

Fig. 6 (a) UV-Vis absorption spectra of Ag2Se QDs sensitized, N719 sensitized and Ag2Se QDs/N719 co-sensitized photoanodes, and (b) UV-Vis absorption spectra of photoanodes with different sensitization time of Ag2Se QDs

Fig. 7 J-V curves of pure Ag2Se quantum dot sensitized solar cell and co-sensitized solar cells with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time

Table 2 Photovoltaic parameters of co-sensitized solar cells with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time

Sample	J_sc/(mA∙cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	ƞ /%
TiO₂/QDs(2 h)	0.44	0.41	0.55	0.10
TiO₂/dye	8.78	0.69	0.50	2.96
TiO₂/QDs(1 h)/dye	9.18	0.74	0.53	3.59
TiO₂/QDs(2 h)/dye	9.53	0.75	0.55	3.97
TiO₂/QDs(3 h)/dye	9.46	0.73	0.55	3.82
TiO₂/QDs(4 h)/dye	8.69	0.75	0.56	3.68
TiO₂/QDs(5 h)/dye	7.69	0.74	0.55	3.10

Fig. 8 (a) Electrochemical impedance plots of co-sensitized solar cells with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time with inset showing the equivalent circuit, and (b) the recombination resistance R2 of DSSCs as a function of different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time

Fig. 9 (a) IMPS and (b) IMVS plots of co-sensitized solar cells with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time

Table 3 IMPS/VS kinetic parameters of co-sensitized solar cells with different Ag2Se QDs sensitization time

Sample	τ_d/ms	τ_c/ms	D_n/ (cm²·s^-1)	L_n/μm	η_cc
TiO₂/dye	31.77	8.45	7.25	15.18	0.73
TiO₂/QDs(1 h)/dye	33.65	8.45	7.25	15.62	0.75
TiO₂/QDs(2 h)/dye	42.37	7.98	7.68	18.04	0.81
TiO₂/QDs(3 h)/dye	42.37	8.45	7.25	17.52	0.80
TiO₂/QDs(4 h)/dye	31.77	7.53	8.14	16.07	0.76
TiO₂/QDs(5 h)/dye	23.83	8.45	7.25	13.14	0.65

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Photovoltaic Performance of Ag₂Se Quantum Dots Co-sensitized Solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

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