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Double-layer TiO2 inverse opal-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The operation of dye-sensitized solar cells and quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) depends strongly on the photoanode material employed. This is addressed in the present work by developing photoanodes based on a double-layer TiO2 inverse opal material with different interconnected pore sizes in the bottom and upper layers for use in QDSSCs. The proposed photoanode material leads to better infiltration of the sensitizers and the hole transporting material through the entire depth of the TiO2 layer. Double-layer TiO2 inverse opal-based QDSSCs are demonstrated to facilitate the greater absorbance of quantum dots and obtain higher photocurrent and power conversion efficiency than QDSSCs adopting single-layer TiO2 inverse opal photoanodes. Various QDSSCs employing double-layer TiO2 inverse opal photoanodes with different pore sizes in the layers are tested. The CdS/CdSe co-sensitized solar cell adopting the optimum photoanode configuration and thickness provided the highest QDSSC conversion efficiency of 5.79%.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Grants No. 11804032 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and No. 201801023A from the Intellectual Property Office of Hubei Province of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434023, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Jingsha Jin, Lingran Zhao, Yuyu Liu, Shufang Gao, Xiangxiang Yu & Yan Xiong

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  1. Jingsha Jin
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  2. Lingran Zhao
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  3. Yuyu Liu
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  4. Shufang Gao
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  5. Xiangxiang Yu
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  6. Yan Xiong
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Correspondence to Yan Xiong.

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Jin, J., Zhao, L., Liu, Y. et al. Double-layer TiO2 inverse opal-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. J Solid State Electrochem 25, 291–299 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-020-04806-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-020-04806-9

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