Cadmium sulphide-sensitized zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) photoanode by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction for solar cell application

In the present study, cadmium sulphide (CdS) quantum dot-sensitized ZrO2 photoanodes have been analysed by using the facial and cost-effective method, popularly known as successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), performed at 300 K. The presence of compact layer and ZnS treatment of the as-prepared photoanode is studied in this article to improve the solar cell parameters. The X-ray diffraction peaks infer the nano-crystalline nature of ZrO2 films with an average particle size of 39.14 nm. The CdS-sensitized ZrO2 films show a significant increase in absorption of photons in the visible region (i.e., 200 to 520 nm) of the absorption spectrum, as we have increased the number of SILAR cycles. Poly-sulphide electrolytes have been prepared in double distilled water and carbon black soot on conducting substrate is used as a counter electrode to be economical. The J-V characteristic of 10 CdS/ZrO2 with a compact layer of TiO2 with surface passivation (ZnS) treatment gives the maximum J(sc) of 1.46 mA/cm(2) with a fill factor of 0.34 and conversion efficiency of 0.46%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the quantum dot-sensitized solar cell is studied to understand the kinetics of charge transfer and transport processes mechanisms involved.

Automated summary

In this study, CdS quantum dot-sensitized ZrO2 photoanodes were analyzed using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at 300 K. The addition of a compact layer and the ZnS treatment of the prepared photoanode were investigated for improving solar cell performance. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the ZrO2 films had a nano-crystalline structure with an average particle size of 39.14 nm. The CdS-sensitized ZrO2 films exhibited enhanced photon absorption in the visible range (200-520 nm) with increasing SILAR cycles. Poly-sulphide electrolytes were prepared using double distilled water and carbon black soot as a cost-effective counter electrode. The J-V characteristics of the CdS/ZrO2 photoanode with a compact layer of TiO2 and surface passivation by ZnS treatment showed a maximum J(sc) of 1.46 mA/cm(2), a fill factor of 0.34, and a conversion efficiency of 0.46%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to understand the charge transfer and transport mechanisms in the quantum dot-sensitized solar cell.