Issue 27, 2017

Quantum dot sensitized solar cells with efficiency over 12% based on tetraethyl orthosilicate additive in polysulfide electrolyte

Abstract

The undesired charge recombination loss, occurring at photoanode/electrolyte interfaces, as well as the high redox potential of the currently used polysulfide redox couple electrolyte restrain the photovoltaic performance, particularly the open-circuit potential (Voc), of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Herein, a valid and facile method to improve the performance of QDSCs is presented by modifying the polysulfide electrolyte with the addition of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). This approach is effective in a series of QDSC systems including the most commonly studied CdSe, CdSeTe, as well as Zn–Cu–In–Se (ZCISe) QDSCs. Experimental results indicate that with the use of 6 vol% TEOS additive in pristine polysulfide electrolyte at a staying time of 24 h, a remarkable enhancement in the conversion efficiency from 11.75% to 12.34% was obtained in ZCISe QDSCs. This photovoltaic performance is believed to be among the best result for all types of QD-based solar cells. The intrinsic mechanism for the performance improvement by the TEOS additive was verified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and open-circuit voltage decay (OCVD) measurements.

Graphical abstract: Quantum dot sensitized solar cells with efficiency over 12% based on tetraethyl orthosilicate additive in polysulfide electrolyte

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 May 2017
Accepted
08 Jun 2017
First published
09 Jun 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 14124-14133

Quantum dot sensitized solar cells with efficiency over 12% based on tetraethyl orthosilicate additive in polysulfide electrolyte

J. Yu, W. Wang, Z. Pan, J. Du, Z. Ren, W. Xue and X. Zhong, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 14124 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA04344A

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