Recent development in colloidal quantum dots photovoltaics

doi:10.1007/s12200-012-0285-7

Front Optoelec

2012, Vol. 5

Issue (4) : 358-370 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-012-0285-7

REVIEW ARTICLE

Recent development in colloidal quantum dots photovoltaics

Li PENG, Jiang TANG(

), Mingqiang ZHU

Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

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Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and green energy supply spurred the surging research on high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics. Colloidal quantum dot solar cell (CQDSC) is a new type of photovoltaic device using lead chalcogenide quantum dot film as absorber materials. It not only has a potential to break the 33% Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for single junction solar cell, but also possesses low-temperature, high-throughput solution processing. Since its first report in 2005, CQDSCs experienced rapid progress achieving a certified 7% efficiency in 2012, an averaged 1% efficiency gain per year. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress reported in the last two years. We started with background introduction and motivation for CQDSC research. We then briefly introduced the evolution history of CQDSC development as well as multiple exciton generation effect. We further focused on the latest efforts in improving the light absorption and carrier collection efficiency, including the bulk-heterojunction structure, quantum funnel concept, band alignment optimization and quantum dot passivation. Afterwards, we discussed the tandem solar cell and device stability, and concluded this article with a perspective. Hopefully, this review paper covers the major achievement in this field in year 2011–2012 and provides readers with a concise and clear understanding of recent CQDSC development.

Keywords lead sulfide colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) solar cells multiple exciton generation (MEG) atomic ligands

Corresponding Author(s): TANG Jiang,Email:jtang@mail.hust.edu.cn

Issue Date: 05 December 2012

Cite this article:

Li PENG,Jiang TANG,Mingqiang ZHU. Recent development in colloidal quantum dots photovoltaics[J]. Front Optoelec, 2012, 5(4): 358-370.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-012-0285-7
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2012/V5/I4/358

Fig.1 (a) characteristics of devices assembled from EDT- and EDT+ hydrazine (Hy)-treated 0.98 eV PbS CQDs film (the inset figure displays a false-color cross-sectional SEM of a typical device); (b) EQE peaks for 18 independent devices made with CQDs bandgaps of 0.71 eV (yellow), 0.72 eV (blue), and 0.73 eV (red), and a device with an antireflective (AR) coating (black) (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.2 SEM of (a) top and (b) angled side view of titania nanopillar on FTO-coated glass substrates. The scale bars are 500 nm. (c) - curves of planar and nanopillar devices showing = 5.6% for nanopillar architecture (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.3 Schematic of BNH device structure consisting of ITO/PbS CQDs/PbS, BiS nanocomposite /BiS nanocrystals/Ag and cross-sectional SEM image with scale bars: 200 nm (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.4 (a) Spatial band diagrams of ungraded, graded and antigraded CQDs solar cells; (b) schematic diagram of device cross sections; (c) detailed band alignment for TiO and PbS CQDs materials used. All color coding corresponds to larger bandgaps (more blue/violet) and smaller bandgaps (more yellow/red) (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.5 Schematic band diagram of DH-CQD devices at equilibrium: Zr-doped TiO shows the optimal band alignment that combines maximal charge separation with high open-voltage; and the cross-sectional SEM image of the device (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.6 (a) Cross-sectional SEM image of typical PbS CQDs solar cells with TMO; (b) schematic energy diagram of interfacial layers PbS/MoO deduced by the UPS data (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.7 (a) Schematic comparison of organic and atomic passivation strategies; (b) structure diagram and cross-sectional SEM; (c)- curve with = 0.544 V, = 0.00071 A, = 62% and = 5.1% (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.8 (a) Schematiccross-section of PbS CQD with organic passivation (left) based on MPA, alkanethiol, and hybrid passivation scheme (right); (b)- curves. Black diamonds are – curve for hybrid passivated device as measured by Newport. Inset: EQE curve for hybrid passivated device (reprinted from Ref. [])

Fig.9 Device structure of CQDs based tandem solar cells and energy level diagram showing HOMO and LUMO energies of each type of PbS CQDs, the Fermi levels (dashed lines) and band edges of isolated GRL materials (reprinted from Ref. [])

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