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Yuan M, Wang X, Chen X, He J, Li K, Song B, Hu H, Gao L, Lan X, Chen C, Tang J. Phase-Transfer Exchange Lead Chalcogenide Colloidal Quantum Dots: Ink Preparation, Film Assembly, and Solar Cell Construction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2102340. [PMID: 34561947 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Solution-processed colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising candidates for the third-generation photovoltaics due to their low cost and spectral tunability. The development of CQD solar cells mainly relies on high-quality CQD ink, smooth and dense film, and charge-extraction-favored device architectures. In particular, advances in the processing of CQDs are essential for high-quality QD solids. The phase transfer exchange (PTE), in contrast with traditional solid-state ligand exchange, has demonstrated to be the most promising approach for high-quality QD solids in terms of charge transport and defect passivation. As a result, the efficiencies of Pb chalcogenide CQD solar cells have been rapidly improved to 14.0%. In this review, the development of the PTE method is briefly reviewed for lead chalcogenide CQD ink preparation, film assembly, and device construction. Particularly, the key roles of lead halides and additional additives are emphasized for defect passivation and charge transport improvement. In the end, several potential directions for future research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohan Yuan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Xia Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
| | - Jungang He
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, 430205, P. R. China
| | - Kanghua Li
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Boxiang Song
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Huicheng Hu
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Liang Gao
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Xinzheng Lan
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Chao Chen
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
| | - Jiang Tang
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, P. R. China
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Akgul MZ, Figueroba A, Pradhan S, Bi Y, Konstantatos G. Low-Cost RoHS Compliant Solution Processed Photovoltaics Enabled by Ambient Condition Synthesis of AgBiS 2 Nanocrystals. ACS PHOTONICS 2020; 7:588-595. [PMID: 32215281 PMCID: PMC7082833 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.9b01757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Two major challenges exist before colloidal nanocrystal solar cells can take their place in the market: So far, these devices are based on Pb/Cd-containing nanocrystals, and second, the synthesis of these nanocrystals takes place in an inert atmosphere at elevated temperatures due to the use of air-sensitive chemicals. In this report, a room-temperature, ambient-air synthesis for nontoxic AgBiS2 nanocrystals is presented. As this method utilizes stable precursors, the need for the use of a protective environment is eliminated, enabling the large-scale production of AgBiS2 nanocrystals. The production cost of AgBiS2 NCs at room temperature and under ambient conditions reduces by ∼60% compared to prior reports based on hot injection, and the solar cells made of these nanocrystals yield a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.5%, the highest reported to date for a colloidal nanocrystal material free of Pb or Cd synthesized at room temperature and under ambient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Zafer Akgul
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Figueroba
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santanu Pradhan
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yu Bi
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gerasimos Konstantatos
- ICFO-Institut
de Ciències Fotòniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA-Institució
Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Fuhr A, Yun HJ, Crooker SA, Klimov VI. Spectroscopic and Magneto-Optical Signatures of Cu 1+ and Cu 2+ Defects in Copper Indium Sulfide Quantum Dots. ACS NANO 2020; 14:2212-2223. [PMID: 31927981 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b09181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) of I-III-VI ternary compounds such as copper indium sulfide (CIS) and copper indium selenide (CISe) have been under intense investigation due to both their unusual photophysical properties and considerable technological utility. These materials feature a toxic-element-free composition, a tunable bandgap that covers near-infrared and visible spectral energies, and a highly efficient photoluminescence (PL) whose spectrum is located in the reabsorption-free intragap region. These properties make them attractive for light-emission and light-harvesting applications including photovoltaics and luminescent solar concentrators. Despite a large body of literature on device-related studies of CISe(S) QDs, the understanding of their fundamental photophysical properties is surprisingly poor. Two particular subjects that are still heavily debated in the literature include the mechanism(s) for strong intragap emission and the reason(s) for a poorly defined (featureless) absorption edge, which often "tails" below the nominal bandgap. Here, we address these questions by conducting comprehensive spectroscopic studies of CIS QD samples with varied Cu-to-In ratios using resonant PL and PL excitation, femtosecond transient absorption, and magnetic circular dichroism measurements. These studies reveal a strong effect of stoichiometry on the concentration of Cu1+ vs Cu2+ defects (occurring as CuIn″ and CuCu• species, respectively), and their effects on QD optical properties. In particular, we demonstrate that the increase in the relative amount of Cu2+ vs Cu1+ centers suppresses intragap absorption associated with Cu1+ states and sharpens band-edge absorption. In addition, we show that both Cu1+ and Cu2+ centers are emissive but are characterized by distinct activation mechanisms and slightly different emission energies due to different crystal lattice environments. An important overall conclusion of this study is that the relative importance of the Cu2+ vs Cu1+ emission/absorption channels can be controlled by tuning the Cu-to-In ratio, suggesting that the control of sample stoichiometry represents a powerful tool for achieving functionalities (e.g., strong intragap emission) that are not accessible with ideal, defect-free materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addis Fuhr
- Chemistry Division, C-PCS , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , University of California, Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California 90095 , United States
| | - Hyeong Jin Yun
- Chemistry Division, C-PCS , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Scott A Crooker
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
| | - Victor I Klimov
- Chemistry Division, C-PCS , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , New Mexico 87545 , United States
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Fu B, Deng C, Yang L. Efficiency Enhancement of Solid-State CuInS 2 Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells by Improving the Charge Recombination. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2019; 14:198. [PMID: 31172299 PMCID: PMC6554371 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-019-2998-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Copper indium sulfide quantum dots (CuInS2 QDs) were incorporated into a nanocrystalline TiO2 film by using spin coating-assisted successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process to fabricate CuInS2 QD-sensitized TiO2 photoelectrodes for the solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) applications. The result shows that the photovoltaic performance of solar cell is extremely dependent on the number of cycles, which has an appreciable impact on the coverage ratio of CuInS2 on the surface of TiO2 and the density of surface defect states. In the following high-temperature annealing process, it is found that annealing TiO2/CuInS2 photoelectrode at a suitable temperature would be beneficial for decreasing the charge recombination and accelerating the charge transport. After annealing at 400 °C, a significantly enhanced photovoltaic properties of solid-state CuInS2 QDSSCs are obtained, achieving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.13%, along with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.68 V, a short-circuit photocurrent density (JSC) of 11.33 mA cm-2, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.41. The enhancement in the performance of solar cells is mainly ascribed to the suppression of charge recombination and the promotion of the electron transfer after annealing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Fu
- College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China
| | - Chong Deng
- College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China
- Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Photovoltaic Technology of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021 China
| | - Lin Yang
- College of Physics Science and Technology, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China
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Sokolov PM, Zvaigzne MA, Krivenkov VA, Litvin AP, Baranov AV, Fedorov AV, Samokhvalov PS, Nabiev IR. Graphene–quantum dot hybrid nanostructures with controlled optical and photoelectric properties for solar cell applications. RUSSIAN CHEMICAL REVIEWS 2019. [DOI: 10.1070/rcr4859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Stroyuk O, Raevskaya A, Gaponik N. Solar light harvesting with multinary metal chalcogenide nanocrystals. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:5354-5422. [PMID: 29799031 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00029h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The paper reviews the state of the art in the synthesis of multinary (ternary, quaternary and more complex) metal chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) and their applications as a light absorbing or an auxiliary component of light-harvesting systems. This includes solid-state and liquid-junction solar cells and photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical systems designed for the conversion of solar light into the electric current or the accumulation of solar energy in the form of products of various chemical reactions. The review discusses general aspects of the light absorption and photophysical properties of multinary metal chalcogenide NCs, the modern state of the synthetic strategies applied to produce the multinary metal chalcogenide NCs and related nanoheterostructures, and recent achievements in the metal chalcogenide NC-based solar cells and the photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical systems. The review is concluded by an outlook with a critical discussion of the most promising ways and challenging aspects of further progress in the metal chalcogenide NC-based solar photovoltaics and photochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Stroyuk
- L.V. Pysarzhevsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine.
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Das TK, Ilaiyaraja P, Sudakar C. Whispering Gallery Mode Enabled Efficiency Enhancement: Defect and Size Controlled CdSe Quantum Dot Sensitized Whisperonic Solar Cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9709. [PMID: 29946160 PMCID: PMC6018832 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27969-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A synergetic approach of employing smooth mesoporous TiO2 microsphere (SμS-TiO2)–nanoparticulate TiO2 (np-TiO2) composite photoanode, and size and defect controlled CdSe quantum dots (QD) to achieve high efficiency (η) in a modified Grätzel solar cell, quantum dot sensitized whisperonic solar cells (QDSWSC), is reported. SμS-TiO2 exhibits whispering gallery modes (WGM) and assists in enhancing the light scattering. SμS-TiO2 and np-TiO2 provide conductive path for efficient photocurrent charge transport and sensitizer loading. The sensitizer strongly couples with the WGM and significantly enhances the photon absorption to electron conversion. The efficiency of QDSWSC is shown to strongly depend on the size and defect characteristics of CdSe QD. Detailed structural, optical, microstructural and Raman spectral studies on CdSe QD suggest that surface defects are prominent for size ~2.5 nm, while the QD with size > 4.5 nm are well crystalline with lower surface defects. QDSWSC devices exhibit an increase in η from ≈0.46% to η ≈ 2.74% with increasing CdSe QD size. The reported efficiency (2.74%) is the highest compared to other CdSe based QDSSC made using TiO2 photoanode and I−/I3− liquid electrolyte. The concept of using whispering gallery for enhanced scattering is very promising for sensitized whisperonic solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Kumar Das
- Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
| | - P Ilaiyaraja
- Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India
| | - C Sudakar
- Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
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Hu Y, Patterson R, Lee-Chin R, Zheng J, Song N, Hu L, Conibeer G, Huang S. Potential for improved transport in core–shell CuInS2 nanoparticle solar cells from an Ag surface termination. CrystEngComm 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c8ce00728d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in charge carrier transport and equivalent photoluminescence were obtained for CuInS2 nanoparticles with Ag-surface termination in photovoltaic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicong Hu
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Rob Patterson
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Robert Lee-Chin
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Jianghui Zheng
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Ning Song
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Long Hu
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Gavin Conibeer
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
| | - Shujuan Huang
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney
- Australia 2033
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Nanoparticles of Ag-In-S and Cu-In-S in Aqueous Media: Preparation, Spectral and Luminescent Properties. THEOR EXP CHEM+ 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11237-017-9533-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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10
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Facet-Specific Ligand Interactions on Ternary AgSbS2
Colloidal Quantum Dots. Chemistry 2017; 23:17707-17713. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201703681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Malgras V, Nattestad A, Kim JH, Dou SX, Yamauchi Y. Understanding chemically processed solar cells based on quantum dots. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS 2017; 18:334-350. [PMID: 28567179 PMCID: PMC5439398 DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2017.1317219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Photovoltaic energy conversion is one of the best alternatives to fossil fuel combustion. Petroleum resources are now close to depletion and their combustion is known to be responsible for the release of a considerable amount of greenhouse gases and carcinogenic airborne particles. Novel third-generation solar cells include a vast range of device designs and materials aiming to overcome the factors limiting the current technologies. Among them, quantum dot-based devices showed promising potential both as sensitizers and as colloidal nanoparticle films. A good example is the p-type PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) forming a heterojunction with a n-type wide-band-gap semiconductor such as TiO2 or ZnO. The confinement in these nanostructures is also expected to result in marginal mechanisms, such as the collection of hot carriers and generation of multiple excitons, which would increase the theoretical conversion efficiency limit. Ultimately, this technology could also lead to the assembly of a tandem-type cell with CQD films absorbing in different regions of the solar spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Malgras
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Andrew Nattestad
- Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, Australia
| | - Jung Ho Kim
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, Australia
| | - Shi Xue Dou
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, Australia
| | - Yusuke Yamauchi
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, Australia
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