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Pb 5 Sb 8 S 17 quantum dot‐sensitized solar cells with an efficiency of 6% under 0.05 sun: T heoretical and experimental studies
Author(s) -
Sie ShengFong,
Suriyawong Nipapon,
Shi JenBin,
He Xin,
Zhang Lijun,
Singh David J.,
Lee MingWay
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2969
Subject(s) - ternary operation , quantum efficiency , quantum dot , materials science , open circuit voltage , energy conversion efficiency , absorption (acoustics) , adsorption , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanoparticle , optoelectronics , voltage , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , composite material , chromatography , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Pb 5 Sb 8 S 17 has recently been demonstrated to be a potential solar absorber material having an efficiency of 4.14% under 0.1 sun. This work reports on the improved performance of solid‐state Pb 5 Sb 8 S 17 quantum dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Density functional calculations revealed indirect and direct energy gaps of 1.64 and 1.70 eV, respectively, large optical absorption coefficients approximately 10 5 cm −1 in the visible range, and a large static dielectric function (ε 0 = 44) facilitating charge collection. Pb 5 Sb 8 S 17 nanoparticles were synthesized using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process. Solid‐state QDSCs were fabricated from the synthesized nanoparticles with spiro‐OMeTAD as the hole‐transporting material. The best cell yielded a short‐circuit current density J sc of 11.88 mA/cm 2 , an open‐circuit voltage V oc of 0.48 V, a fill factor FF of 45.7%, and an efficiency η of 2.61% under 1 sun. The η increased to 5.13% at the reduced light of 0.1 sun and further increased to 6.04% at 0.05 sun with J sc = 1.33 mA/cm 2 , V oc = 0.41 V, and FF = 55.7%. The present result represents a 24% improvement over the best previous result. This efficiency of approximately 6% can be categorized as one of the highest‐efficiency ternary QDSCs (except the widely studied Cu‐In‐Se system) and is comparable to the performance of other high‐efficiency QDSCs based on single‐layered semiconductor absorbers, suggesting that Pb 5 Sb 8 S 17 could be an efficient absorber material for solar cells.