Microwave Synthesized Monodisperse CdS Spheres of Different Size and Color for Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Monodisperse CdS spheres of size of 40 to 140 nm were obtained by microwave heating from basic solutions. It is observed that larger CdS spheres were formed at lower solution pH (8.4–8.8) and smaller ones at higher solution pH (10.8–11.3). The color of CdS products changed with solution pH and reaction temperature; those synthesized at lower pH and temperature were of green-yellow color, whereas those formed at higher pH and temperature were of orange-yellow color. A good photovoltage was observed in CdS:poly(3-hexylthiophene) solar cells with spherical CdS particles. This is due to the good dispersion of CdS nanoparticles in P3HT solution that led to a large interface area between the organic and inorganic semiconductors. Higher photocurrent density was obtained in green-yellow CdS particles of lower defect density. The efficient microwave chemistry accelerated the hydrolysis of thiourea in pH lower than 9 and produced monodisperse spherical CdS nanoparticles suitable for solar cell applications.

A Tunable Photoluminescent Composite of Cellulose Nanofibrils and CdS Quantum Dots

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Millifluidic synthesis of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles and their application in bioimaging

“…CdS semiconductor nanoparticles are of interest in various applications such as optoelectronics particularly in photovoltaics and photoactivation, [13][14][15][16] bioimaging 17 and biosensing. 18 At the nanoscale where quantum connement effects come into play, these nanoparticles can exhibit very different optical and chemical properties from its bulk material.…”

From Self-Assembly of Colloidal Crystals toward Ordered Porous Layer Interferometry

“…Another important chalcogenide nanomaterial is cadmium sulfide (CdS), which has been widely used in solar cells and lasers. Rodríguez-Castañeda et al synthesized monodisperse CdS spheres with a hydrothermal method, slightly modified by using a microwave oven to heat the reaction tube [45]. CdS prepared by the solvothermal procedure can provide highly monodisperse spheres with precise tunable sizes from 80 nm to 500 nm [46].…”