Performance enhancement of CdS-sensitized TiO2 mesoporous electrode with two different sizes of CdS nanoparticles

In order to absorb broad spectrum and enhance the absorption in visible region, a novel electrode architecture is designed to co-sensitize TiO2 mesoporous film with two different sizes of CdS nanoparticles. Firstly, an added layer of CdS film with large size CdS nanoparticles (L-CdS) is coated on the TiO2 mesoporous film using spin-coating technique. Then the small size CdS nanoparticles (S-CdS) are deposited on TiO2/L-CdS mesoporous film by sequential chemical bath deposition method. The co-sensitization electrode (TiO2/L-CdS/S-CdS electrode) shows enhancement and broadening of absorption spectrum, in comparison with single-sensitization electrodes (TiO2/L-CdS and TiO2/S-CdS electrodes). The conversion efficiency of the semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSSCs) prepared with TiO2/L-CdS/S-CdS electrode is 1.60% which is higher than that of the SSSCs prepared with TiO2/L-CdS and TiO2/S-CdS electrodes.

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► A new electrode structure was designed to co-sensitize TiO2 mesoporous film with two different sizes of CdS nanoparticles.
► The new electrode structure enhanced and broadened the absorption of visible light by CdS-sensitized TiO2 electrode.
► The enhanced and broadened absorption of visible light leaded to the performance enhancement of CdS-sensitized TiO2 electrode.