Issue 1, 2020

Photoexcited carrier dynamics in colloidal quantum dot solar cells: insights into individual quantum dots, quantum dot solid films and devices

Abstract

The certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) record of colloidal quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) has considerably improved from below 4% to 16.6% in the last few years. However, the record PCE value of QDSCs is still substantially lower than the theoretical efficiency. So far, there have been several reviews on recent and significant achievements in QDSCs, but reviews on photoexcited carrier dynamics in QDSCs are scarce. The photovoltaic performances of QDSCs are still limited by the photovoltage, photocurrent and fill factor that are mainly determined by the photoexcited carrier dynamics, including carrier (or exciton) generation, carrier extraction or transfer, and the carrier recombination process, in the devices. In this review, the photoexcited carrier dynamics in the whole QDSCs, originating from individual quantum dots (QDs) to the entire device as well as the characterization methods used for analyzing the photoexcited carrier dynamics are summarized and discussed. The recent research including photoexcited multiple exciton generation (MEG), hot electron extraction, and carrier transfer between adjacent QDs, as well as carrier injection and recombination at each interface of QDSCs are discussed in detail herein. The influence of photoexcited carrier dynamics on the physiochemical properties of QDs and photovoltaic performances of QDSC devices is also discussed.

Graphical abstract: Photoexcited carrier dynamics in colloidal quantum dot solar cells: insights into individual quantum dots, quantum dot solid films and devices

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
01 May 2019
First published
11 Dec 2019

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020,49, 49-84

Photoexcited carrier dynamics in colloidal quantum dot solar cells: insights into individual quantum dots, quantum dot solid films and devices

Y. Zhang, G. Wu, F. Liu, C. Ding, Z. Zou and Q. Shen, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020, 49, 49 DOI: 10.1039/C9CS00560A

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