Non-toxic silver iodide (AgI) quantum dots sensitized solar cells

The present study reports the performance of a new photosensitizer -AgI quantum dots (QDs)- and mesoporous titania (TiO2) nanocrystals synthesized by sol-gel (SG) method for solar cells. Furthermore, the effects of n-heptane on the textural properties of TiO2 nanocrystals were comprehensively investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N-2 adsorption-desorption measurements, and UV-vis spectroscopy. TiO2 powders exhibited an anatase-type mesoporous structure with a high surface area of 89.7 m(2)/g. Afterwards, the QDs were grown on mesoporous TiO2 surface to fabricate a TiO2/Agl electrode by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) deposition route. Current-voltage characteristics and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data demonstrated that the injection of photoexcited electrons from AgI QDs into the TiO2 matrix produces photocurrents. The assembled AgI-QD solar cells yielded a power conversion efficiency of 0.64% and a short-circuit current of 2.13 mA/cm(2) under one sun illumination. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.