Influence of Liquid Electrolyte Solvent on the Efficiency of Quantum dots-sensitized Solar Cells

In this work, firstly carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized using monoethanolamine by electrochemical method. TEM image illustrated that the synthesized CQDs were in the range of ۵ to ۳۰ nm. They were used in fabrication of quantum dots-sensitized solar cell (QDSCs) using TiO۲ as photoanode material on FTO electrode (FTO/TiO۲/CQDs). Secondly, the effect of solvent was investigated in the solar cell’s liquid electrolyte, using three different solvents with the electrolyte of triiodide/iodide redox couple (I-/I۳ -). Three types of solvents, including acetonitrile(AN), ethylene glycol (EG) and equal combination of acetonitrile and ethylene glycol were examined. The highest efficiency was observed by IV analyzer, in the FTO/TiO۲/CQDs-EG solar cell, producing ۰.۱ mA/cm۲ short-circuit current density (JSC) and ۴۷% fill factor (FF).

Keywords:

Quantum dots-sensitized solar cell. Electrochemical method. Carbon quantum dots synthesis , liquid electrolyte.