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High Performance Colloidal Quantum Dot Photovoltaics by Controlling Protic Solvents in Ligand Exchange
Author(s) -
Song Jung Hoon,
Choi Hyekyoung,
Kim YongHyun,
Jeong Sohee
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201700301
Subject(s) - materials science , photovoltaics , solvent , ligand (biochemistry) , quantum dot , energy conversion efficiency , nanotechnology , colloid , chemical engineering , methanol , photovoltaic system , organic chemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , biochemistry , receptor , engineering , ecology , biology
Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising light harvesting materials for realization of solution processible, highly efficient multipurpose photovoltaics (PVs). Here, PbS CQD solar cells are reported with improved certified power conversion efficiency performance of 10.4% by simply controlling protic solvents (alcohols) in ligand exchange process. With shorter chain alcohols, the mobility of charge carriers is an order‐of‐magnitude improved due to the enhanced interparticle coupling; on the other hand, excessive removal of passivating ligands by very protic solvent, methanol (MeOH) induced undesirable traps on CQD surface. Consequently, it has been found that high performance CQD PVs require a solvent engineering for balance between native leaving ligands with incoming ligands during ligand exchange process for well‐controlled surfaces of CQDs and enhanced carrier concentration of conductive CQD films.