CdS quantum dot-decorated titania/graphene nanosheets stacking structures for enhanced photoelectrochemical solar cells

Abstract

Quantum dot (QD)-decorated stacking structures of graphene (G) and titania nanosheets (TNS) have been fabricated through a layer-by-layer technique associated with a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. The photoanodes with such stacking structures exhibit enhanced photocurrent responses under simulated solar light irradiation. Compared with the photoanodes without graphene, the photoanodes integrated with graphene could greatly enhance the photocurrent generation. Though the thickness of the multilayer films in our experiment is on the nanometer scale, a considerable photoelectric conversion efficiency has been obtained by employing such a stacking structure for the photoelectrochemical solar cell. The stacking structure synchronously taking advantage of the conductive property of graphene and the visible light-harvesting ability of quantum dots will enlighten the fabrication of novel energy conversion devices.