Exploring the optical properties of lead zinc sulfide photoanodes for optoelectronics

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2020-09, Vol.126 (9), Article 726
• Main Authors: Badawi, Ali, Al Otaibi, Alia Hendi, Al-Baradi, Ateyyah M., Almalki, Abdulraheem S. A., Algarni, Saud A., Atta, A. A., Alkhammash, Hend I., Al-Hosiny, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloying; Applied physics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Deposition; Energy bands; Energy gap; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optoelectronics; Photoanodes; Photovoltaic cells; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Quantum dots; Solar cells; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; X ray spectrometers; Zinc sulfide
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-020-03923-6

In this study, the optical properties of alloyed lead zinc sulfide quantum dots (Pb 0.8 Zn 0.2 S QDs) photoanodes have been explored for optoelectronic applications. The alloyed QDs photoanodes were prepared by SILAR technique for different deposition cycles (0–8 times). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) were used to investigate the morphological and elemental measurements respectively. A UV–visible spectrophotometer was utilized to study the optical properties. The obtained energy band gap ( E g ) values of the prepared photoanodes vary from 1.98 to 3.32 eV as the number of the deposition cycles is increased from 1 to 8 times. The best photovoltaic performance of the assembled QDs sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is achieved for the 6 times SILAR deposition cycles. This result is mainly attributed to the absorption enhancement and the harmony of the energetic alignment levels of the prepared QDSSC’s layers. The prepared alloyed photoanodes could be novel candidates in many optoelectronic applications.