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Current Nanoscience

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4137
ISSN (Online): 1875-6786

Research Article

Structural, Morphological and Raman Studies of CdS/CdSe Sensitized TiO2 Nanocrystalline Thin Films for Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

Author(s): Leda G. Bousiakou*, Mile Ivanda, Lara Mikac, Dimitris Raptis, Marijan Gotic, Panagiotis Lianos, Kerstin Jurschat and Colin Johnston

Volume 14, Issue 5, 2018

Page: [421 - 431] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/1573413714666180425121538

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Abstract

Background: It is well known that quantum dot-sensitized solar cells based on nanostructured semiconductor films are considered as a promising alternative to silicon-based solar cells. The aim of this paper is to investigate the structural and morphological properties of CdS/CdSe quantum dot sensitized photoanodes based on nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films considering their performance can reach an efficiency of 2.7%.

Methods: TiO2 thin films were prepared on fluorine tin oxide (FTO) glass via the chemical route using commercial Degussa 25 and crystallized at 550°C. Furthermore, a layer of CdS and CdSe nanoparticles was deposited on the titania film by a sequence of successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) methods. After preparation, samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy for their structural properties and composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate their surface morphology, while energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) was used to analyze the sample stoichiometry.

Results: The structural properties and morphology of quantum dot sensitized photoanodes revealed that the titania thin films were highly crystalline belonging predominantly in the tetragonalanatase structure, while the CdS/CdS quantum dots were in the cubic phase. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with energy dispersive X-Ray mapping EDS showed little contamination.

Conclusions: Combined analysis suggests that our preparation route leads to highly crystalline, stoichiometric photoanodes. This plays an important role in the performance of the quantum dot sensitized solar cells.

Keywords: Nanocrystalline, titania, quantum dots, cadmium chalcogenides, solar cells, Raman spectroscopy.

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