Quantum dot-sensitized mesoporous spherical TiO2 paste with cyclic calcination for photoelectrochemical cells

•Quantum dot-sensitized mesoporous spherical TiO2 paste was sintered via cyclic calcination (CC).•CC designates a process of repeating sintering and cooling.•CC process enabled simplification of the sensitization process and yielded uniform, high-quality photoanodes.•The QD-sensitized MS TiO2 solar cells prepared with the CC process show remarkably higher photocurrents than other quantum dot/TiO2 hybrid solar cells.

Quantum dot (QD)-sensitized mesoporous (MS) spherical TiO2 paste on fluorine-doped tin oxide was sintered via cyclic calcination (CC), a process of repeating sintering and cooling. This enabled simplification of the sensitization process and yielded uniform, high-quality photoanodes. The CdS and CdSe QD-sensitized MS TiO2 cells prepared by the proposed CC process showed short-circuit photocurrents (Jsc) of 1.3 and 1.5 mA cm−2, respectively. These Jsc values are several times higher than the values reported for other QD/TiO2 hybrid systems. We believe that this chemical and structural methodology will accelerate the commercialization of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs).

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide