TiO2 inverse opal based CdS/CdSe quantum dot co-sensitized solar cells

CdS and CdSe quantum dots were introduced as co-sensitizers into TiO₂ inverse opal quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Herein, the three-dimensionally ordered porous TiO₂ inverse opal film leads to a better infiltration of both sensitizers and hole transporting material, and the smaller surface area of TiO₂ inverse opal film is effectively offset by the incorporating of co-sensitization. It was found that the presence of CdS/CdSe co-sensitizers provides enhanced light absorption, and leads to a lower recombination rate of the electrons due to the stepwise structure of band edge in TiO₂/CdS/CdSe, which resulted in the observed enhanced photocurrent and energy conversion efficiency of the solar cells. A cell efficiency of 1.01 % has been attained.     

CdS量子点敏化纳米TiO2异质薄膜的制备和表征

以异丙醇钛(C12H28O4Ti)为主要原料合成氧化钛(TiO2)前驱体溶胶,并结合230℃水热处理得到TiO2溶胶,利用电流体动力学(EHD)技术在掺氟氧化锡导电(FTO)玻璃基片上镀膜,450℃高温煅烧制备具有多级结构锐钛矿TiO2纳米薄膜。以硝酸镉(Cd(NO3)2)及硫化钠(Na2S)分别为镉源和硫源,采用化学浴沉积技术在TiO2薄膜上沉积制备了量子点敏化的异质薄膜。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、电子扫描电镜(SEM)、电子透射电镜(TEM)以及紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis absorbance spectra)对薄膜结构和性能进行表征。结果表明,纳米TiO2薄膜具有亚微米球簇堆积结构,球簇之间形成尺寸连续分布的微纳通道,便于溶液的浸润和离子的表面吸附。敏化制备异质薄膜中硫化镉以量子点状态存在,晶粒尺寸为3～5nm范围内。UV-Vis吸收光谱证实量子点的量子限域效应,吸收发生蓝移现象。     

CdS quantum dot sensitized nanocrystalline Gd-doped TiO2 thin films for photoelectrochemical solar cells

CdS quantum dot sensitized Gd-doped TiO₂ nanocrystalline thin films have been prepared by chemical method. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that TiO₂ and Gd-doped TiO₂ nanocrystalline thin films are of anatase phase. The absorption spectra revealed that the absorption edge of CdS quantum dot sensitized Gd-doped TiO₂ thin films shifted towards longer wavelength side (red shift) when compared to that of CdS quantum dot sensitized TiO₂ films. CdS quantum dots with a size of 5 nm have been deposited onto Gd-doped TiO₂ film surface by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method and the assembly of CdS quantum dot with Gd-doped TiO₂ has been used as photo-electrode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells. CdS quantum dot sensitized Gd-doped TiO₂ based solar cell exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 1.18 %, which is higher than that of CdS quantum dot sensitized TiO₂ (0.91 %).     

Chemical synthesis of CdS onto TiO2 nanorods for quantum dot sensitized solar cells

A quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) is fabricated using hydrothermally grown TiO₂ nanorods and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) deposited CdS. Surface morphology of the TiO₂ films coated with different SILAR cycles of CdS is examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy which revealed aggregated CdS QDs coverage grow on increasing onto the TiO₂ nanorods with respect to cycle number. Under AM 1.5G illumination, we found the TiO₂/CdS QDSSC photoelectrode shows a power conversion efficiency of 1.75%, in an aqueous polysulfide electrolyte with short-circuit photocurrent density of 4.04 mA/cm² which is higher than that of a bare TiO₂ nanorods array.     

CdS量子点沉积的钛基纳米管的制备及其光催化性能研究

采用水热法制备了钛基纳米管,利用双官能团物质2-巯基丙酸为连接剂,将CdS量子点沉积在纳米管表面,研究了2-巯基丙酸浓度对样品的物相、微观结构和光催化活性的影响。利用X射线衍射仪、透射电子显微镜、紫外可见分光度计和光催化反应仪对样品进行了表征。结果表明,CdS量子点成功沉积在纳米管表面,改变2-巯基丙酸浓度可以调节CdS量子点的沉积数量,随着CdS量子点在纳米管表面的沉积,样品不仅在紫外光区有吸收,在可见光区也出现吸收,其吸收边在540nm左右。CdS量子点的沉积提高了样品在可见光下的光催化活性,2-巯基丙酸浓度为0.7mol/L时制备的样品对甲基橙降解的光催化活性最好。     

Growing TiO2 nanowires on the surface of graphene sheets in supercritical CO2: characterization and photoefficiency

Tremendous interest exists towards synthesizing nanoassemblies for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using earth-abundant and -friendly materials with green synthetic approaches. In this work, high surface area TiO(2) nanowire arrays were grown on the surface of functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) containing -COOH functionalities acting as a template by using a sol-gel method in the green solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)). The effect of scCO(2) pressure (1500, 3000 and 5000 psi), temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C), acetic acid/titanium isopropoxide monomer ratios (HAc/TIP = 2, 4 and 6), functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs)/TIP weight ratios (1:20, 1:40 and 1:60 w/w) and solvents (EtOH, hexane) were investigated. Increasing the HAc/TIPweight ratio from 4 to 6 in scCO(2) resulted in increasing the TiO(2) nanowire diameter from 10 to 40 nm. Raman and high resolution XPS showed the interaction of TiO(2) with the -COOH groups on the surface of the graphene sheets, indicating that graphene acted as a template for polycondensation growth. UV-vis diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy showed a reduction in titania's bandgap and also a significant reduction in electron-hole recombination compared to bare TiO(2) nanowires. Photocurrent measurements showed that the TiO(2)nanowire/graphene composites prepared in scCO(2) gave a 5× enhancement in photoefficiency compared to bare TiO(2) nanowires.     

Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 nanorod arrays decorated with CdS nanoparticles

TiO₂ nanorod arrays (TiO₂ NRAs) sensitized with CdS nanoparticles were fabricated via successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR), and TiO₂ NRAs were obtained by oxidizing Ti NRAs obtained through oblique angle deposition. The TiO₂ NRAs decorated with CdS nanoparticles exhibited excellent photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties under visible light, and the one decorated with 20 SILAR cycles CdS nanoparticles shows the best performance. This can be attributed to the enhanced separation of electrons and holes by forming heterojunctions of CdS nanoparticles and TiO₂ NRAs. This provides a promising way to fabricate the material for solar energy conversion and wastewater degradation.     

Synthesis of TiO2/CdS nanocomposite via TiO2 coating on CdS nanoparticles by compartmentalized hydrolysis of Ti alkoxide

Hydrolysis of Ti alkoxide in the presence of inverse micelles containing CdS nanoparticles in their hydrophilic interior results in formation of TiO₂/CdS nanocomposites in which the CdS nanoparticles are embedded in a TiO₂ matrix with a thickness of 10 nm at the surface of the particles. The primary hydroxyl groups introduced by 2-mercaptoethanol as a capping agent used for preparation of the CdS nanoparticles are considered to play an important role for successful adhesion and growth of the TiO₂ layer on the CdS surfaces. TEM observation strongly supports formation of semiconductor-in-semiconductor heteronanostructure by compartmentalized hydrolysis of Ti alkoxide within the inverse micelles in which the surface-capped CdS nanoparticles coexist.     

Efficient Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells based on SnO2 microsphere photoelectrodes

Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells based on SnO₂ microsphere photoelectrodes are prepared with successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. It is found that with Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitizers, the photovoltaic performance of the cells based on SnO₂ microsphere photoelectrodes can obviously be enhanced. The reasons are owing to the improved light absorption and the expanded light absorption edge by doping Mn in CdS quantum dots. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis found that the cells with Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitized SnO₂ microsphere photoelectrodes can efficiently suppress dark reaction, owing to the increased related resistance. Moreover, it is also found that the Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitized SnO₂ microsphere photoelectrode can increase the electron diffusion lifetime in the cell. The power conversion efficiency of the cell with 4 wt% Mn-doped CdS quantum dot sensitizers can attain to 2.80 %, with 53 % enhancement compared with that of the CdS quantum dot sensitized cell (1.83 %).     

Synthesis of monodisperse CdS nanowires and their photovoltaic applications

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanowires with a monodisperse diameter of 3.6 nm and an aspect ratio of 10–170 were successfully synthesized using a simple and reproducible hot coordinating solvents method. The morphology and optical properties of the CdS nanocrystals were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. It was found that using a long alkyl chain phosphonic acid-octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) causes a low diffusion rate and low reactivity which help to control the morphology of the nanocrystals. The timing of the injection process was also found to have critical effect on the morphology of the nanocrystals. Sharp peaks in both the UV–Vis absorption and PL spectra indicate that the size distribution of the diameter is nearly monodisperse. The photovoltaic properties of photovoltaic devices made with a blend of our nanowires and poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) were also investigated. Devices made with the nanowires were found to have double the I_sc observed in devices made with lower aspect ratio CdS nanorods. The possible reason of low photocurrent and high V_oc is maybe due to the presence of ligand in the nanocrystals.     

CdS/TiO2纳米晶薄膜的原位法制备及光电化学性能研究

CdS/TiO₂异质结薄膜因其优异的可见光催化性能, 在光催化领域引起了广泛关注。然而, 目前传统方法制备的CdS/TiO₂薄膜可能存在交界面结合不紧密的问题, 不利于光生载流子在交界面处的传输。因此, 本研究基于原位转换的原理(TiO₂→CdTiO₃→CdS), 将TiO₂纳米晶表层原位转换成CdS, 制备了CdS/TiO₂纳米晶薄膜。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)手段对样品薄膜的形貌和结构进行了表征。由表征结果可知, 在TiO₂纳米晶表面形成了CdS, 构成了交界面结合紧密的CdS/TiO₂异质结薄膜。光电化学性能研究表明, 与传统的连续离子层吸附反应法(SILAR)制备的薄膜相比, 原位法制备的CdS/TiO₂薄膜的光电流密度更高, 达到9.8 mA·cm^-2(V=0.4 V (vs. RHE)); 交流阻抗谱(EIS)结果表明, 原位法制备的CdS/TiO₂薄膜具有更小的电荷传输电阻, 说明原位法形成的CdS/TiO₂异质结结合更紧密, 能减小光生载流子在CdS/TiO₂界面处的传输阻力, 降低光生载流子在传输过程中的复合几率, 进而提高CdS/TiO₂薄膜的光电化学性能。     

TiO2 nanowires sensitized with CdS quantum dots and the surface photovoltage properties

TiO₂ nanowires prepared by thermal annealing of anodized Ti foil were sensitized with CdS quantum dots (QDs) via chemical bath deposition (CBD). Microstructural characterizations by SEM, TEM and XRD show that the CdS nanocrystals with the cubic structure have intimate contact to the TiO₂ nanowires. The amount of CdS QDs can be controlled by varying the CBD cycles. The experiment results demonstrate that the surface photovoltage (SPV) response intensity was significantly enhanced and the surface photovoltage response region was also expanded obviously for the TiO₂ NWs sensitized by CdS QDs.     

Misfit-guided self-organization of anticorrelated ge quantum dot arrays on si nanowires

Misfit-strain guided growth of periodic quantum dot (QD) arrays in planar thin film epitaxy has been a popular nanostructure fabrication method. Engineering misfit-guided QD growth on a nanoscale substrate such as the small curvature surface of a nanowire represents a new approach to self-organized nanostructure preparation. Perhaps more profoundly, the periodic stress underlying each QD and the resulting modulation of electro-optical properties inside the nanowire backbone promise to provide a new platform for novel mechano-electronic, thermoelectronic, and optoelectronic devices. Herein, we report a first experimental demonstration of self-organized and self-limited growth of coherent, periodic Ge QDs on a one-dimensional Si nanowire substrate. Systematic characterizations reveal several distinctively different modes of Ge QD ordering on the Si nanowire substrate depending on the core diameter. In particular, Ge QD arrays on Si nanowires of around 20 nm diameter predominantly exhibit an anticorrelated pattern whose wavelength agrees with theoretical predictions. The correlated pattern can be attributed to propagation and correlation of misfit strain across the diameter of the thin nanowire substrate. The QD array growth is self-limited as the wavelength of the QDs remains unchanged even after prolonged Ge deposition. Furthermore, we demonstrate a direct kinetic transformation from a uniform Ge shell layer to discrete QD arrays by a postgrowth annealing process.     

Synthesis and growth mechanism of triangular Mn doped CdS nanowires

Triangular Mn-doped CdS nanowires (NWs) were prepared by thermal evaporation of a mixture of CdS and MnCl₂. The morphologies and detailed structures were characterized by a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscope. The Mn concentration plays an important role in synthesis of the triangular NWs. The morphologies can be varied from hexagonal to triangular by adjusting the amount of MnCl₂ in the reaction mixture. The oriented attachment mechanism is demonstrated to be the most suitable mechanism to explain the growth process of the triangular NWs. The photoluminescence shows the intensity of Mn²⁺ emission peak increases as the molar ratio of MnCl₂increases.     

Optical detection of CA 15.3 breast cancer antigen using CdS quantum dot

The present study focus on optical sensing of breast cancer antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) using cadmium sulphide quantum dot (CdS‐QD) in saline and serum samples spiked with antigen. The surface of CdS‐QD was modified by cysteamine capping followed by tagging of CA 15.3 antibody. The samples were characterised using UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy (UV‐VIS Spectroscopy), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) attached with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, phase contrast inverted epi‐fluorescence microscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry (EDS). The CdS‐QD showed a mean diameter of 3.02 ± 0.6 nm. The complex formed after antigen‐antibody interaction resulted in distinguishable optical and fluorescence intensity with respect to varying concentration of antigen. The PL study revealed that CA 15.3 antibody labelled CdS QD can detect CA 15.3 tumour marker even at very low concentration of 0.002 KU/L with a constant response time of 15 min. This study clearly indicates that detection of CA 15.3 at low concentration is possible using surface modified CdS QD in serum samples and can find immense applications in biosensor development for detection of breast cancer marker similar to various automated detection kits available in market.Inspec keywords: semiconductor quantum dots, cadmium compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, cancer, tumours, optical sensors, biosensors, biomedical equipment, visible spectra, ultraviolet spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray chemical analysis, fluorescence, optical microscopy, photoluminescence, proteins, molecular biophysics, nanosensors, nanomedicine, nanoparticlesOther keywords: optical detection, CA 15.3 breast cancer antigen, optical sensing, cadmium sulphide quantum dot, saline samples, serum samples, cysteamine capping, CA 15.3 antibody, UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, phase contrast inverted epifluorescence microscopy, photoluminescence spectrophotometry, antigen‐antibody interaction, fluorescence intensity, optical intensity, CA 15.3 tumour marker, surface modified CdS QD, biosensor development, time 15 min, CdS     

Assembly of CdS quantum dots onto mesoscopic TiO(2) films for quantum dot-sensitized solar cell applications

Colloidal cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots (QDs) were prepared and surface modified by mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) to render a surface with carboxylic acid groups (MSA-CdS). The MSA-CdS QDs were then assembled onto bare TiO(2) mesoporous films using the carboxylic groups/TiO(2) interaction. The TiO(2) film was also surface modified by 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) or 3-aminopropyl-methyl diethoxysilane (APMDS) to prepare, respectively, a thiol (-SH) or amino (-NH(2)) terminated surface for binding with the CdS QDs. The experimental results showed that the MPTMS-modified film has the highest adsorption rate and adsorption amount to the CdS QDs, attributable to the strong thiol/CdS interaction. In contrast, the adsorption rate and incorporated amount of the QDs on the bare TiO(2) film are much lower than for the silane-modified films. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) obtained for the CdS-sensitized TiO(2) electrode was about 20% (at 400?nm) for the bare TiO(2), 13% for the MPTMS-TiO(2), and 6% for APMDS-TiO(2). The current-voltage measurement under dark conditions reveals a higher dark current on the MPTMS-?and APMDS-modified electrodes, indicating a lower coverage ratio of CdS on these TiO(2) films. This result is attributed to the fast adsorption rate of CdS QDs on the bottleneck of a mesopore which inhibits the transport of the QDs deep into the inner region of a pore. For the bare TiO(2) film, the lower incorporated amount of CdS but higher energy conversion efficiency indicates the formation of a better-covered CdS QDs monolayer. The moderate adsorption rate of MSA-CdS QDs using the carboxylic acid/TiO(2) interaction is responsible for the efficient assembly of QDs onto the mesoporous TiO(2) films.     

CdS量子点的制备和光学性质

以醋酸镉、硫粉为原料制备CdS量子点,研究了硫的加入量对其光学性质的影响,结果表明:合成的CdS量子点粒径均匀,分散性较好,随着硫加入量的增加CdS量子点的粒径增大;反应中过量的硫能有效地填补硫空位,从而抑制表面态发光,同时,ODA的修饰也能有效地钝化表面态,减小表面态的发光强度.     

Double-sided transparent electrodes of TiO2 nanotube arrays for highly efficient CdS quantum dot-sensitized photoelectrodes

A novel double-sided CdS quantum dots-sensitized TiO₂ nanotube (TNT)/ITO photoelectrode is fabricated to improve the energy conversion efficiencies of quantum dots-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Our experimental results show that the double-sided CdS quantum dots-sensitized TNT/ITO photoelectrodes show enhanced light absorption. As a consequence, the photoelectrochemical response of the CdS/TNT/ITO photoelectrode is much improved compared with single-sided CdS sensitized TNT arrays on Ti substrate (i.e., CdS/TNT/Ti photoelectrode). An optimum conversion efficiency of 7.5 % is achieved by the double-sided CdS(15)/TNT/ITO photoelectrode, which is an enhancement of about 120 % when compared with the single-sided CdS/TNT/Ti photoelectrode. Our results demonstrate that the energy conversion efficiencies of QDSCs can be improved by designing a new photoelectrode structure.     

Different hierarchical nanostructured carbons as counter electrodes for CdS quantum dot solar cells

CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells based on TiO(2) photoanode and nanostructured carbon as well as Pt as counter electrodes using iodide/triiodide and polysulfide electrolytes were fabricated to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar cells. Compared with conventional Pt (η = 1.05%) and CMK-3 (η = 0.67%) counter electrodes, hollow core-mesoporous shell carbon (HCMSC) counter electrode using polysulfide electrolyte exhibits much larger incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE = 27%), photocurrent density (J(sc) = 4.31 mA.cm(-2)) and power conversion efficiency (η = 1.08%), which is basically due to superb structural characters of HCMSC such as large specific surface area, high mesoporous volume, and 3D interconnected well-developed hierarchical porosity network, which facilitate fast mass transfer with less resistance and enable HCMSC to have highly enhanced catalytic activity toward the reduction of electrolyte shuttle.     

Synthesis and characterization of CdS doped TiO2 nanocrystalline powder: A spectroscopic study

This report aimed to study the effect of CdS doping in TiO₂ on the phase transformation of TiO₂ from anatase to rutile using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. CdS-doped TiO₂ nanocomposites have been prepared and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We have observed that contrary to bare TiO₂, phase transformation of TiO₂ from anatase to rutile is hindered when doped with CdS at high temperature. Raman spectroscopy is found to be more sensitive for detection of the surface of TiO₂ as compared to XRD.