Publication date: 1st April 2013
The aim of our work was to obtain stable and efficient semiconductor-sensitized solar cells. We compare two different ways of deposition of low band semiconductor nanoparticles (CdX, X=S, Se) on electrochemically deposited ZnO nanorods: (i) by successive ion-layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique [1] and (ii) by electrophoretic deposition. The first method results in good coverage of nanorods with semiconductor but a shortage of this technique is difficult control both of nanoparticle’s size and amount of deposited material. However, this method is considered as the most efficient and ZnO/CdX obtained in this way was used by us as the reference system. The photoelectrochemical response of the ZnO/CdX was studied in aqueous solution of Na2SO3 as the hole scavenger. The studies were focused on the relationship between the number of SILAR cycles and performance of the device.
The second investigated procedure includes ex situ synthesis of CdX quantum dots by combined microemulsion method [2] providing a good size distribution control and allowing ligand functionalization. In our studies the mercaptoethane sulfonate and mercaptopropionic acid were used as the ligands as well as the linkers to the ZnO. The deposition of pre synthesized quantum dots to ZnO nanorods was performed either by electrophoretic method or chemical attachement via the ligand’s functional groups. The possible problems related to instability of ZnO nanorods due to inappropriate ligand pH and/or too high potential applied during electrophoresis are identified and discussed.
Acknowledgement:
This work was partially supported by Polish National Science Centre (grant 2011/03/N/ST5/04712).
1. Lee, H., Wang, M., Chen, P., Gamelin, D. R., Zakeeruddin, S. M., Grätzel, M., Nazeeruddin, M. K. Efficient CdSe quantum dot-sensitized solar cells prepared by an improved successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process. Nano Letters, 2009, 9(12), 4221-4227. 2. Xi, L. F., Lam, Y. M Synthesis and characterization of CdSe nanorods using a novel microemulsion method at moderate temperature. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2007, 316(2), 771-778.
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