Abstract:
Quantum dots have secured their identity as a potent candidate in opto-electronics and
photovoltaic applications. Highly efficient, low-cost quantum dot-sensitized solar cells
(QDSSCs) have been fabricated with CdS quantum dots by co-sensitization with MnS
quantum dots. The CdS and MnS quantum dots layer, which was deposited on the
photoanode using the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR)
technique. Cadmium (II) Acetate (C4H6CdO4), Manganese (II) Acetate [Mn
(CH3CO2)2] and Sodium Sulfide (Na2S) used to prepare the mentioned quantum dots.
Device configuration of the fabricated QDSSC was FTO/TiO2 -P90/ TiO2 -
P25/CdS/MnS/electrolyte/Pt. Poly-sulfide redox couple was used as the electrolyte.
Solar cells resulted in an efficiency of 1.18 % with an open-circuit voltage of 467.9
mV and a short-circuit current density of 8.94 mA cm-2, and fill factor of 28.2% under
the illumination of 100 mW cm2 with AM 1.5 spectral filter. Active area of the cell
was limited to 0.16 cm2. The efficiency of co-sensitized MnS QDSSC is 1.16 times
greater than only CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Morphological, optical and
electrical characterizations of photoanodes and cells have been studied with standard
methods. They really supported to clarify the results.
