Photovoltaic devices employing ternary PbSxTe1-x nanocrystals

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2017.01.018

Abstract

Abstract:

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs), especially lead chalcogenide CQDs, are regarded as promising materials for the next generation solar cells, due to their large absorption coefficient, excellent charge transport, and multiple exciton generation effect. We successfully synthesized highly-crystalline, monodispersed, well-alloyed PbS_xTe_1-x nanocrystals via a one-pot, hot injection reaction method. Energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy suggested that the S and Te anions were uniformly distributed in the alloy nanoparticles. The photovoltaic performance of CQD solar cells based on ternary PbS_xTe_1-x was reported for the first time. The photovoltaic devices using PbS_xTe_1-x were more efficient than either the pure PbS or the PbTe based devices. In addition, the PbS_xTe_1-x based devices showed a significantly improved stability than that of the PbTe based devices.

Key words: PbTe, Colloidal quantum dots, PbSxTe1-x, Quantum dot solar cells, Schottky solar cells

Zhu Xiangxiang, Liu Zeke, Shi Guozheng, Gu Jinan, Wang Weiwei, Ma Wanli. Photovoltaic devices employing ternary PbS_xTe_1-x nanocrystals[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2017, 33(5): 418-423.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1. (a) Evolution of the absorption spectra of PbTe nanocrystals with reaction time. (b) TEM image of monodispersed PbTe nanocrystals synthesized at 120 °C. The inset shows the high-resolution image of one QD. (c) XRD spectra of the synthesized PbTe QDs.

Fig. 2. (a) Absorption spectra of PbS, PbTe and PbSxTe1-x alloy with different S/Te ratio. (b) TEM-Mapping measurement of PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.8) alloy.

Fig. 3. (a) Schematic device structure of Schottky solar cell device. (b) SEM cross section profile of PbTe nanocrystals Schottky solar cells. (c) Energy level alignment of materials used in Schottky solar cell.

Fig. 4. (a) Energy level alignment of PbS, PbSxTe1-x and PbTe nanocrystals. (b) J-V curves of PbS, PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.8), PbTe nanocrystals solar cells.

Table 1 Device performance parameters of PbS, PbSxTe1-x and PbTe nanocrystals.

	Voc (v)	Jsc (mA/cm²)	FF	PCE (%)
PbS	0.46	14.13	0.48	3.16
PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.8)	0.44	14.67	0.53	3.45
PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.6)	0.45	14.89	0.49	3.31
PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.4)	0.42	14.74	0.49	3.06
PbSxTe1-x (x = 0.2)	0.34	15.90	0.48	2.61
PbTe	0.31	8.22	0.48	1.23

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