Influence of acid and alkaline sources on optical, structural and photovoltaic properties of CdSe nanoparticles precipitated from aqueous solution

doi:10.1007/s11706-016-0336-x

Front. Mater. Sci.

2016, Vol. 10

Issue (2) : 168-177 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-016-0336-x

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Influence of acid and alkaline sources on optical, structural and photovoltaic properties of CdSe nanoparticles precipitated from aqueous solution

C. Selene CORIA-MONROY^1,^*(

),Mérida SOTELO-LERMA²,Hailin HU¹

1. Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Priv. Xochicalco S/N, 62580, Temixco, Morelos, México
2. Universidad de Sonora, Blvd. Luis Encinas y Rosales S/N, Col. Centro, Hermosillo, Sonora, México

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Abstract

CdSe is a widely researched material for photovoltaic applications. One of the most important parameters of the synthesis is the pH value, since it determines the kinetics and the mechanism of the reaction and in consequence, the optical and morphological properties of the products. We present the synthesis of CdSe in solution with strict control of pH and the comparison of ammonia and KOH as alkaline sources and diluted HCl as acid medium. CdSe formation was monitored with photoluminescence emission spectra (main peak in 490 nm, bandgap of CdSe nanoparticles). XRD patterns indicated that CdSe nanoparticles are mainly of cubic structure for ammonia and HCl, but the hexagonal planes appear with KOH. Product yield decreases with pH and also decreases with KOH at constant pH value since ammonia has a double function, as complexing agent and alkaline source. Changes in morphology were observed in SEM images as well with the different alkaline source. The effect of alkaline sources on photovoltaic performance of hybrid organic solar cells with CdSe and poly(3-hexylthiophene) as active layers was clearly observed, indicating the importance of synthesis conditions on optoelectronic properties of promising semiconductor nanomaterials for solar cell applications.

Keywords CdSe optical properties morphological properties hybrid solar cells

Corresponding Author(s): C. Selene CORIA-MONROY

Online First Date: 14 April 2016 Issue Date: 11 May 2016

Cite this article:

C. Selene CORIA-MONROY,Mérida SOTELO-LERMA,Hailin HU. Influence of acid and alkaline sources on optical, structural and photovoltaic properties of CdSe nanoparticles precipitated from aqueous solution[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2016, 10(2): 168-177.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-016-0336-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2016/V10/I2/168

Tab.1 CdSe solution synthesis in reflux with agitation at 80°C for 1 h at different pH values

Fig.1 (a) Red route: Color transitions of red route in CdSe at 80°C in 5<pH<12 with HCl, KOH and ammonia. Color changes as functions of reaction time (b) in the acid/neutral CdSe solutions with HCl pH 5–6 or neutral and (c) in the alkaline solutions with KOH pH 8 or ammonia pH 8–10.

Fig.2 (a) Color transitions of red route in CdSe at 80°C in 9<pH<11 with KOH and pH 10–12 with ammonia. Color changes in CdSe solutions as functions of reaction time (b) with KOH pH 9–11 and (c) with ammonia pH 10–12. (d) Intervals of time required to reach a selected color (brown) in CdSe solutions with different alkaline sources: KOH versus ammonia.

Fig.3 (a) Resume of synthesis of CdSe with different pH adjusters. (b) Product yield of all CdSe samples.

Fig.4 PL emission spectra (a) at the yellow, bright red and brown transitions during the synthesis of CdSe at 80°C with ammonia at pH 9; of CdSe samples (80°C, 4 h) dispersed in water (b) from red route: KOH pH 8, ammonia pH 8–9, and (c) from brown route: KOH pH 9–10, ammonia pH 10. (d) Comparison of samples from red and brown routes: PL emission spectra with deconvolutions of CdSe ammonia pH 8 and pH 10. Insets in curves: Relative intensities are referred to the peak at 490 nm. (e) PL emission spectra of CdSe from acidic solution (pH 5 with HCl).

Fig.5 (a) XRD patterns of CdSe products synthesized with KOH (pH 10), ammonia (pH 10) and HCl (pH 5). Deconvolutions of XRD patterns of CdSe synthesized with (b) HCl (pH 5), (c) KOH (pH 10), and (d) ammonia (pH 10). The relative intensities are shown in Table 2. SEM images of CdSe products synthesized with (e) KOH (pH 10), (f) ammonia (pH 10), and (g) HCl (pH 5).

Tab.2 Relative intensities of deconvolutions of XRD patterns of Fig. 6 in the range 2θ = 23°–28°

Fig.6 (a) Tauc plots[F(R)hν]² versus hv of CdSe (80°C, 4 h) with sodium citrate with KOH pH 10, ammonia pH 10, and HCl pH 5. (b)J–V plots of CdSe/P3HT bilayer solar cells with CdSe (80°C, 4 h) of KOH pH 10, ammonia pH 10 and HCl pH 5.

Tab.3 Cell parameters of solar cells with CdSe synthesized at 80°C for 1 h at pH 10 with KOH and ammonia and at pH 5 with HCl

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