CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cell based hierarchical branched ZnO nanoarrays

• To prepare a hierarchical branched ZnO NAs photoanode.
• The optical path length enhances through the scatting effect of ZnO NAs.
• Larger internal surface area increases CdSe loadings.

The hierarchical branched ZnO nanoarrays (NAs) photoanode was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method. Vertically aligned long ZnO NWs were first synthesized using as the backbone of hierarchical branched ZnO NAs structure and high quality ZnO NAs branches were grown on the surface of backbone ZnO NAs. The structured films enhance the optical path length through the light scatting effect of branched ZnO NAs and prove the larger internal surface area in NAs film to increase quantum dots (QDs) sensitizer loadings, so the light absorption has an optimization. Compared with the cell based conventional 1D ZnO NAs, the efficiency of the new cells has a great improvement due to the increase of the short circuit current density.

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