Boosting Power Conversion Efficiency of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells by Integrating Concentrating Photovoltaic Concept with Double Photoanodes

Nanoscale Research Letters

Xuesong Li¹  Xijia Yang¹  Liying Wang¹  Wei Lü¹  Xueyu Zhang¹  Pei Xu²  Dejun Wang²  Xiaopeng Chang²  Runru Liu² 

[1] Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural Materials, Ministry of Education & Advanced Institute of Materials Science, Changchun University of Technology, 130012, Changchun, People’s Republic of China;Key Laboratory of Materials Design and Quantum Simulation, College of Science, Changchun University, 130012, Changchun, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells;    Concentrating photovoltaic;    Double photoanodes;    Mesh counter electrode;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s11671-020-03424-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Despite great efforts dedicated to enhance power conversion efficiency (PCE) of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) in the past two decades, the efficiency of QDSSCs is still far behind its theoretical value. The present approaches for improving PCE are mainly focused on tailoring the bandgap of QDs to broadening light-harvesting and optimizing interfaces of component parts. Herein, a new solar cell architecture is proposed by integrating concentrating solar cell (CPV) concept into QDSSCs with double photoanode design. The Cu2S mesh is used as a counter electrode and sandwiched between two photoanodes. This designed battery structure can increase the PCE by 260% compared with a single photoanode. With the most extensively used CdS/CdSe QD sensitizers, a champion PCE of 8.28% (Voc = 0.629 V, Jsc = 32.247 mA cm−2) was achieved. This is mainly due to the increase in Jsc due to the double photoanode design and adoption of the CPV concept. In addition, another reason is that concentrated sunshine illumination induced a photothermal effect, accelerating the preceding chemical reactions associated with the conversion of polysulfide species. The cell fabrication and design reported here provides a new insight for further development of QDSSCs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY