Effects of bifunctional linker on the performance of P3HT/CdSe quantum dot-linker-ZnO nanocolumn photovoltaic device

Abstract

We study the effects of bifunctional linker on the photovoltaic properties of P3HT/CdSe quantum dot-linker-ZnO nanocolumn heterostructure. The CdSe quantum dots are bound on the surface of ZnO nanocolumns through either aliphatic linker of 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane(APS) or aromatic linker of p-aminophenyl trimethoxysilane(APhS) using simple solution process. As compared to CdSe bound by aliphatic linker(APS), while CdSe is bound by aromatic linker(APhS), more than one fold increase of short circuit current density (J(SC)) of the device obtained under irradiance, which is attributed to a more efficient charge transfer dynamics at interface. In addition, the ZnO-APhS-CdSe/P3HT devices possess about 4.8 folds in power conversion efficiency as compared to ZnO/P3HT device as the results of reduction in shunt loss and interfacial recombination.

Effect of Different Sensitization Technique on the Photoconversion Efficiency of CdS Quantum Dot and CdSe Quantum Rod Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells

“…The QDs take advantage of physical processes favored in the quantum confinement regimen as multiple exciton generation, high extinction coefficients and tunable absorption band through size control, resistance to oxidation, and thermal stability 7- 10 11 . Different QDs have been used as sensitizer (CdSe, CdTe, CdS, PbS, PbSe, Bi 2 S 3 , and InP) [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] prepared from solution methods at low cost.…”

Controlling ZnO/poly( N ‐vinylcarbazole) hybrid morphology via surface modification of ZnO quantum dots for optoelectronic applications

“…The other reason may have been related to the higher rate of electron jumping across the interface from π–electron interactions of aromatic phenyl groups of PhTES modifier and carbazol groups of PVK chains. Improving the photovoltaic efficiency has been previously reported by Liu et al [34] and Zeng et al [35] on ligand exchange of aliphatic‐capped CdSe QDs with aromatic molecules.…”

Effects of bifunctional linker on the optical properties of ZnO nanocolumn-linker-CdSe quantum dots heterostructure

“…In a related paper, the study on photovoltaic device photocurrent indicates that the photoanode of ZnO-APhS-CdSe posseses higher photocurrent as compared to ZnO-APS-CdSe [22]. The increased number of charge collected under illumination reflects the improved charge transfer from CdSe to ZnO in ZnO-APhS-CdSe.…”

“…The preparation method of the hetero-structures of ZnO-linkerCdSe has been described in other reports [18,22]. To obtain the 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS, Acros) modified ZnO nanocolumn, a ZnO nanocolumn film on substrate (0.5 Â 0.5 cm 2 ) was firstly immersed in 6 g of anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, Acros).…”