CdS/CdSe co-sensitized hierarchical nanosheet-constructed NiO microballs for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Hierarchical-nanosheet-constructed NiO microspheres were prepared by a hydrothermal method using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as the surfactant. NiO films prepared with NiO microballs were first co-sensitized with CdS and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and then introduced into QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) as photoanodes. The optimized photoelectric conversion efficiency was 1.40%, with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.544 V, short-circuit current (JSC) of 4.34 mA cm−2, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.59. From the results obtained, NiO films demonstrate potential as photoanode materials for QDSCs.