High performance solid-state PbS/CuS hetero-nanostructured quantum dots-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

PbS/CuS hetero-nanostructured (HNS) quantum dots(QDs) with finely controlled PbS core-size (3, 5, and 7 nm) and CuS content (4, 7, 11, 14, 17, and 45 mol%) were successfully synthesized via the suppressed cationic exchange reaction rate by reducing the reaction temperature down to -3 degrees C. By the precise synthesis of the PbS/CuS HNS QDs, we found that the PbS/CuS HNS QDs with 3 nm in core-size and 14 mol % CuS have the most effective charge separation/injection from the HNS QDs to the mesoscopic TiO2 electron conductor, thereby the sensitized solar cells exhibited high power conversion efficiency of 9.3%. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.