Electrospun TiO2 nanostructures sensitized by CdS in conjunction with CoS counter electrodes: Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells all prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction

Development of low-cost quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) with intermediate efficiency is of great interests among global researchers. In this communication, we report a CdS QDSC featuring CoS counter electrode that is all prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Promising photovoltaic performance of an overall power conversion efficiency of nearly 1% is obtained in the presence of a methanol-free polysulfide electrolyte under standard 1-Sun illumination of 100 mWcm− 2. Based on the cost-effective nature of electrospinning technique and the simple SILAR preparation of both the photoelectrode and the counter electrode without any elaborate procedures, we believe such a methodology would open up new vistas for wide deployment of solar cells due to great reduction of the fabrication cost.

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► A low-cost quantum dot-sensitized solar cell all prepared by SILAR.
► The photoelectrode consists of unique rice-shaped TiO2 produced by electrospinning.
► CdS deposition on the TiO2 electrode is by the SILAR method.
► The counter electrode consists of SILAR-deposited CoS instead of costly Pt.
► An overall power conversion efficiency of ~ 1%.