Quantum dot based molecular solar cells

• Quantum dots are efficient light harvesting materials useful for photovoltaic application.
• The ligands at the surface of the quantum dots are of utmost importance to define the quantum dot properties.
• Quantum dots can be applied to Gratzel solar cells, organic solar cells and Schottky photovoltaic devices.
• Determination of the charge recombination mechanisms in quantum dot solar cells is key to improve their performance.

In this article, the various methods used to prepare semiconductor nanocrystals with quantum confined properties including colloidal quantum dot synthesis, successive ionic-layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), chemical bath deposition (CBD) and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) are reviewed. Device working principles and the state-of-the-art of the main solar cell architectures employing semiconductor nanocrystals are discussed. Finally, we present several of our own studies from the last number of years that concern investigations of charge recombination reactions in solar cells employing semiconductor nanocrystals.

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