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Title: Optimizing photovoltaic performance in CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using an agar-based gel polymer electrolyte

Abstract

Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) offer new opportunities to address the clean energy challenge, being one of the top candidates for third generation photovoltaics. Like dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), QDSSCs normally use liquid electrolytes that suffer from issues such as evaporation or leakage. In this study a gel polysulfide electrolyte was prepared containing a natural polymer, agar, and was used as a quasi-solid-state electrolyte in solar cells to replace the conventional liquid electrolytes. This gel electrolyte shows almost the same conductivity as the liquid one. The solar cells were fabricated using CuInS2 quantum dots (QDs), previously synthesized, deposited on TiO2 photoanodes by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). CdS was deposited on TiO2 by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)–Cu2S, brass, and thin film CuxS were used as counter electrodes. Compared to a liquid polysulfide water based electrolyte, solar cells based on CuInS2 and CdS using gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) exhibit greater incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE = 51.7% at 520 nm and 72.7% at 440 nm), photocurrent density (Jsc = 10.75 and 13.51 mA cm-2), and power conversion efficiency (η = 2.97 and 2.98%) while exhibiting significantly enhanced stability. The solar cells employing the agar-basedmore » gel polymeric electrolyte are about a factor of 0.20 more stable than using a liquid electrolyte. The higher photovoltaic performance is due to the good conductivity and high wettability as well as the superior permeation capability of the gel electrolyte into the mesoporous matrix of a TiO2 film« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States); Univ. of Sao Joao del-Rei (Brazil)
  2. Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States)
  3. Univ. of Sao Joao del-Rei (Brazil)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division
OSTI Identifier:
1425981
Grant/Contract Number:  
FC02-02ER63421
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
RSC Advances
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 7; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 2046-2069
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY

Citation Formats

Raphael, E., Jara, D. H., and Schiavon, M. A. Optimizing photovoltaic performance in CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using an agar-based gel polymer electrolyte. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1039/c6ra27635k.
Raphael, E., Jara, D. H., & Schiavon, M. A. Optimizing photovoltaic performance in CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using an agar-based gel polymer electrolyte. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra27635k
Raphael, E., Jara, D. H., and Schiavon, M. A. 2017. "Optimizing photovoltaic performance in CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using an agar-based gel polymer electrolyte". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra27635k. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1425981.
@article{osti_1425981,
title = {Optimizing photovoltaic performance in CuInS 2 and CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by using an agar-based gel polymer electrolyte},
author = {Raphael, E. and Jara, D. H. and Schiavon, M. A.},
abstractNote = {Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) offer new opportunities to address the clean energy challenge, being one of the top candidates for third generation photovoltaics. Like dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), QDSSCs normally use liquid electrolytes that suffer from issues such as evaporation or leakage. In this study a gel polysulfide electrolyte was prepared containing a natural polymer, agar, and was used as a quasi-solid-state electrolyte in solar cells to replace the conventional liquid electrolytes. This gel electrolyte shows almost the same conductivity as the liquid one. The solar cells were fabricated using CuInS2 quantum dots (QDs), previously synthesized, deposited on TiO2 photoanodes by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). CdS was deposited on TiO2 by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)–Cu2S, brass, and thin film CuxS were used as counter electrodes. Compared to a liquid polysulfide water based electrolyte, solar cells based on CuInS2 and CdS using gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) exhibit greater incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE = 51.7% at 520 nm and 72.7% at 440 nm), photocurrent density (Jsc = 10.75 and 13.51 mA cm-2), and power conversion efficiency (η = 2.97 and 2.98%) while exhibiting significantly enhanced stability. The solar cells employing the agar-based gel polymeric electrolyte are about a factor of 0.20 more stable than using a liquid electrolyte. The higher photovoltaic performance is due to the good conductivity and high wettability as well as the superior permeation capability of the gel electrolyte into the mesoporous matrix of a TiO2 film},
doi = {10.1039/c6ra27635k},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1425981}, journal = {RSC Advances},
issn = {2046-2069},
number = 11,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

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Cited by: 34 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Direct Generation of Mn‐Doped ZnS Quantum Dots/Alginate Nanocomposite Beads Based on Gelation and In Situ Synthesis of Quantum Dots
journal, January 2019


Quasi solid-state quantum dot–sensitized solar cells with polysulfide gel polymer electrolyte for superior stability
journal, August 2019


Sodium carboxymethyl starch-based highly conductive gel electrolyte for quasi-solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cells
journal, October 2017


Recent advances in electrolytes for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells
journal, January 2018


Electrostatically regulated photoinduced electron transfer in “cationic” eco-friendly CuInS 2 /ZnS quantum dots in water
journal, January 2018