High short-circuit current density in a non-toxic Bi2S3 quantum dot sensitized solar cell

• Published in: Materials today energy 2021-09, Vol.21, p.100783, Article 100783
• Main Authors: Rosiles-Perez, C., Sidhik, S., Ixtilico-Cortés, L., Robles-Montes, F., López-Luke, T., Jiménez-González, A.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bi2S3 quantum dots; Polyol; QDSSC; SILAR deposition technique
• ISSN: 2468-6069; 2468-6069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100783

A high short-circuit current density, Jsc, with an average of 20 mA/cm2 has been obtained in a quantum dot–sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) assembled with non-toxic Bi2S3 quantum dots (QDs) as the unique sensitizer material. High-density sensitization of the fluorine-doped tin oxide/c-TiO2/m-TiO2/s-TiO2 heterojunction with Bi2S3 QDs has been achieved by the addition of 1,2,3-propanetriol as a complexing agent of bismuth ions. The atomic percentage concentration of Bi and S in the heterojunction increased by 11.40 and 19.64 times with respect to the non-use of the complexing agent, respectively. The Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction method without the use of 1,2,3-propanetriol generates a Jsc of 0.71 mA/cm2, whereas the addition of the complexing agent produces a Jsc of 15.98 mA/cm2, which means an increase of 22.5 times, and an additional thermal treatment of the Bi2S3 QDs increases the Jsc to a maximum of 21 mA/cm2. The proposed Bi2S3 QDs preparation methodology can be used for the fabrication of other solar device configurations based on Bi2S3 as a non-toxic photovoltaic material, unlike the toxic chalcogenide semiconductors containing lead and cadmium. [Display omitted] •Development of solar cells sensitized with Bi2S3 quantum dots (QDs).•High short-circuit current density of 20 mA/cm2 in a non-toxic Bi2S3 quantum dot–sensitized solar cell.•High-density sensitization of TiO2 heterojunction with Bi2S3 QDs using glycerol.•Glycerol increases the absorption capacity of Bi and S on TiO2.•Annealing of Bi2S3 QDs increases the short-circuit current density from 16 to 21 mA/cm2.