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Layer-by-layer CdTe Nanoparticle Absorbers for ZnO Nanorod Solar Cells - The Influence of Annealing on Cell Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Joe Briscoe ,
Diego E. Gallardo  and
Steve Dunn
Joe Briscoe
Affiliation:
[email protected], Cranfield University, Microsystems and Nanotechnology, Bedford, United Kingdom
Diego E. Gallardo
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Cambridge, Physics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Steve Dunn
Affiliation:
[email protected], Queen Mary, University of London, Materials, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract

The conformal coating of ZnO nanorods with CdTe nanoparticles using layer-by-layer (LbL) processing produces a quantum dot-sensitised solar cell. As the number of CdTe layers increases the absorption of incident light increases below the absorption onset of the nanoparticles (650 nm). Photoluminescence investigations of the CdTe-ZnO composite structure suggest a transfer of photoexcited electrons from the CdTe nanoparticles the ZnO nanorods. Filling of the semiconductor composite structure with CuSCN provides the solar cell with a p-type semiconductor to collect the photogenerated holes from the system. Annealing the CdTe-polymer coated nanorods lowers the series resistance of the cell by removing the polymer component of the film. A cell annealed at 350 °C has a Jsc of 0.12 mAcm-2, and a Voc of 49 mV under 0.25 mW/cm2 illumination.

Keywords

photovoltaicnanostructureself-assembly
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1260: Symposium T – Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics from Nanoparticles , 2010 , 1260-T06-02
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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