Improving the Performance of PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells by Optimizing ZnO Window Layer

Comparing with hot researches in absorber layer, window layer has attracted less attention in PbS quantum dot solar cells (QD SCs). Actually, the window layer plays a key role in exciton separation, charge drifting, and so on. Herein, ZnO window layer was systematically investigated for its roles in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano-micro letters 2017, Vol.9 (2), p.24-10, Article 24
Main Authors: Yang, Xiaokun, Hu, Long, Deng, Hui, Qiao, Keke, Hu, Chao, Liu, Zhiyong, Yuan, Shengjie, Khan, Jahangeer, Li, Dengbing, Tang, Jiang, Song, Haisheng, Cheng, Chun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorbers
Control equipment
Electrical properties
Energy bands
Energy conversion efficiency
Engineering
Excitons
Heterojunctions
Nanoscale Science and Technology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology and Microengineering
Optical properties
Photovoltaic cells
Quantum dots
Solar cells
Surface defects
Thickness
Zinc oxide
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Summary:Comparing with hot researches in absorber layer, window layer has attracted less attention in PbS quantum dot solar cells (QD SCs). Actually, the window layer plays a key role in exciton separation, charge drifting, and so on. Herein, ZnO window layer was systematically investigated for its roles in QD SCs performance. The physical mechanism of improved performance was also explored. It was found that the optimized ZnO films with appropriate thickness and doping concentration can balance the optical and electrical properties, and its energy band align well with the absorber layer for efficient charge extraction. Further characterizations demonstrated that the window layer optimization can help to reduce the surface defects, improve the heterojunction quality, as well as extend the depletion width. Compared with the control devices, the optimized devices have obtained an efficiency of 6.7% with an enhanced V oc of 18%, J sc of 21%, FF of 10%, and power conversion efficiency of 58%. The present work suggests a useful strategy to improve the device performance by optimizing the window layer besides the absorber layer.
ISSN:2311-6706
2150-5551
DOI:10.1007/s40820-016-0124-2