Herein, we synthesized a CdSe quantum
dots (QDs)-decorated ternary
metal oxide nanocomposite of ZnO/TiO2/CuO through a simple
hydrothermal method. The prepared nanocomposite exhibited monoclinic,
hexagonal, and cubic phase structures in XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis.
UV–vis absorbance spectra showed the broad absorption spectrum.
SEM (scanning electron microscopy) clearly showed the presence of
nanoparticles and confirmed the elements through elemental mapping.
TEM (transmission electron microscopy) confirmed the nanostructure
of metal oxides decorated with QDs. The average particle size was
45 nm for metal oxides and 7 nm for QDs. XPS (X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy) also confirmed the surface elemental composition. The
prepared nanocomposites were introduced as photoanodes in DSSCs (dye-sensitized
solar cells) and as photocatalysts for industrial dye solution. Among
these samples, CdSe@CuO/TiO2/ZnO showed an improved performance
of PCE (photon conversion efficiency) of 3.68% in DSSC and 96% photocatalytic
degradation efficiency. It showed a recycling efficiency of ∼92%
after 4 cycles against methylene blue (MB) organic dye under visible
light irradiation.