A bifacial quantum dot-sensitized solar cell with all–cadmium sulfide photoanode

• Bifacial QDSSCs from all-CdS photoanides are fabricated.
• Nanoflower-structured CdS QDs are synthesized by a hydrothermal process.
• A front efficiency of 1.67% and a rear efficiency of 1.17% are obtained for the QDSSC.

Pursuit of a high power conversion efficiency and reduction of electricity-generation cost has been a persistent objective for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). We present here the fabrication of a QDSSC comprising a nanoflower-structured CdS anode, a liquid electrolyte having S2−/Sn2− redox couples, and a transparent CoSe counter electrode. Nanoflower-structured CdS anodes are prepared by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method and subsequently hydrothermal strategy free of any surfactant or template. The CdS nanoparticles synthesized by a SILAR method act as “seed crystal” for growth of CdS nanoflowers. The average electron lifetime is markedly elevated in nanoflower-structured CdS anode in comparison with CdS nanoparticle or nanoporous CdS microsphere anode. Herein, we study the effect of synthesis method on CdS morphology and solar cell's photovoltaic performance, showing a power conversion efficiency of 1.67% and 1.17% for nanoflower-structured CdS QDSSC under front and rear irradiations, respectively.

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