Spectroscopic insights into high defect tolerance of Zn:CuInSe2 quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Current Challenges in the Development of Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

“…[29][30][31] Despite, most of the first reports on QDSSCs were based on Pb or Cd containing materials (as CdS, CdSe, or PbS), [25,28] in contrast with other semiconductor solution processed photovoltaics, high performances have been attained with Pb and Cd-free materials, as CuInS 2 , [36] ZCIS, [30,31] or ZCISe. [29][30][31]37,38] While thin-film colloidal QDs have been developed first based on PbS and PbSe QDs [8] and currently on lead halide perovskite QDs, with current performances >16%, [39] in QDSSCs Pb and Cd-free QDs play currently a major role since most recent PCE records have been obtained with "green" QDs. This fact also represents an advantage with respect to the solution processed halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), where PSCs presenting PCE exceeding the record for QDSSCs are always based on Pb halide perovskites.…”

“…Very recently Klimov and co-workers have reported that in QDSSC configuration trapped photogenerated carriers can be partially recovered, and consequently recycled to ultimately contribute to the device efficiency. [38] They compared QDSSCs sensitized with colloidal ZCISe QDs attached to the TiO 2 using different capping providing them different binding interaction with TiO 2 and different steric hindrance. They show that similar performance can be obtained with different capping providing both weak and strong binding interaction with TiO 2 , but lower performance was obtained for capping with strong steric hindrance as reduce the QD loading.…”

“…analyzed under 1 sun illumination there is no report [24] of negligible degradation for >30 h. [44] Polysulfide electrolyte limits the long-term stability via oxidation of the QDs. [38] In addition, the oxidation of Cu in the brass electrode, also extensively used in combination with polysulfide system, [16] upward the redox level, limiting the open circuit potential, V oc . [38] While carbon electrodes have provide interesting results in terms of efficiency, [34,37,38] the stability in combination with polysulfide is severely limited.…”

“…[38] In addition, the oxidation of Cu in the brass electrode, also extensively used in combination with polysulfide system, [16] upward the redox level, limiting the open circuit potential, V oc . [38] While carbon electrodes have provide interesting results in terms of efficiency, [34,37,38] the stability in combination with polysulfide is severely limited. [38] Consequently, the future applicability of QDSSCs will depend on getting a compatible semiconductor QD, redox, and counter electrode system stable beyond polysulfide.…”

“…[38] While carbon electrodes have provide interesting results in terms of efficiency, [34,37,38] the stability in combination with polysulfide is severely limited. [38] Consequently, the future applicability of QDSSCs will depend on getting a compatible semiconductor QD, redox, and counter electrode system stable beyond polysulfide.…”