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Title: Sensitization of SnO 2 Single Crystals with Multidentate‐Ligand‐Capped PbS Colloid Quantum Dots to Enhance the Photocurrent Stability

Journal Article · · ChemNanoMat
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [3];  [3]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering University of Jinan Jinan 250022 P.R. China, Department of Chemistry and School of Energy Resources University of Wyoming 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie Wyoming 82071 United States
  2. Department of Chemistry and School of Energy Resources University of Wyoming 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie Wyoming 82071 United States
  3. Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth Max-Born-Str. 2 12489 Berlin Germany

Abstract A PbS quantum dot (QD) sensitized SnO 2 solar cell has the advantage of producing photocurrent from near‐infrared to the ultraviolet that covers much of the higher energy solar spectrum. However, the long‐chain ligands, that are frequently used to cap as‐synthesized QDs, inhibit the charge transfer ability to the sensitized substrate, decreasing the photovoltaic efficiency in the device. Herein, we present a fast and efficient ligand‐exchange strategy for the replacement of synthetically convenient hydrophobic oleic acid (OA) ligands with short‐chain multidentate hydrophilic ligands such as meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) that increase the electronic coupling to the SnO 2 substrate. Results from ultraviolet‐visible‐near‐infrared (UV‐Vis‐NIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) micrographs verify that this ligand‐exchange method produces no significant QD size or crystal‐structure changes. X‐ray photon spectra (XPS) results suggest that thiol groups from DMSA are likely bound to the PbS QDs compared to other bifunctional ligands. The PbS QDs sensitized SnO 2 single crystals were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM), and with incident photon current efficiency (IPCE) spectra. Furthermore, it was shown that the IPCE of DMSA‐capped PbS QDs sensitized SnO 2 single crystals retains >80% of its initial value after >7 hours of illumination within an electrolyte containing a high concentration of NaI whereas other ligand capped PbS QDs degraded much more rapidly.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0007115
OSTI ID:
1603711
Journal Information:
ChemNanoMat, Journal Name: ChemNanoMat Vol. 6 Journal Issue: 3; ISSN 2199-692X
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 1 work
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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