Anisotropic CuInSe2 nanocrystals: synthesis, optical properties and their effect on photoelectric response of dye-sensitized solar cell

CuInSe 2 I–III–VI 2 ternary semiconductor considered as one of the most promising semiconductor material which considers a very efficient solar energy conversion material. An organometallic pyrolysis method is used to prepare monodisperse CuInSe 2 nanoparticles using a mixture of oleylamine, and trioctylphosphine (TOP) as capping materials. Controlling the particle shape dot, rods or flowers occurs via varying the reaction temperatures (160, 200, 220°C) respectively. The obtained particles have been characterized to determine the shape and size of CuInSe 2 nanoparticles using HR-TEM and XRD. The optical and the electronic properties of these particles have been investigated and discussed in details. Then the different shapes of CIS nanoparticles (nanodots, nanorods, and nanoflowers) were introduced to the DSSC to study their effect on the optical switching properties. It was found that the nanoflowers provide better photovoltaic performance than the other shapes; since it reduces the settling time to 50 milliseconds after it was more than 17 second before adding CIS nanoparticles to the cells.