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Zinc–Tin Oxide Film as an Earth-Abundant Material and Its Versatile Applications to Electronic and Energy Materials. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12050485. [PMID: 35629811 PMCID: PMC9145960 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12050485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Zinc–Tin Oxide (ZTO) films potentially offer desirable properties for next-generation devices and are considered promising candidates due to the following merits: (I) zinc and tin are abundant on Earth, with estimated reserves of approximately 250 million tons and 4.3 billion tons, respectively, (II) zinc and tin are harmless to the human body, and (III) large-area manufacturing with various synthesis processes is available. Considering the advantages and promises of these ZTO films, this review provides a timely overview of the progress and efforts in developing ZTO-based electronic and energy devices. This review revisits the ZTO films used for various device applications, including thin-film transistors, memory devices, solar cells, and sensors, focusing on their strong and weak points. This paper also discusses the opportunities and challenges for using ZTO films in further practical electronic and energy device applications.
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2
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Du N, Cui Y, Zhang L, Yang M. Effect of Mn doping on the electron injection in CdSe/TiO 2 quantum dot sensitized solar cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:647-656. [PMID: 33332495 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp03866k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Promotion in power conversion efficiency is an appealing task for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells that have emerged as promising materials for the utilization of clean and sustainable energy. Doping of Mn atoms into quantum dots (QD) has been proven to be one of the effective approaches, although the origin of such a promotion remains controversial. While several procedures are involved in the power conversion process, electron injection from the QD to the semiconductor oxide substrate is focused on in this work using first-principles calculations. Based on the Marcus theory, the electron injection rates are evaluated for the quantum dot-sensitized solar cell models in which the pure and Mn-doped core-shell CdSe clusters are deposited on a semiconductor titanium dioxide substrate. Enhanced rates are obtained for the Mn-doped structure, which is in qualitative agreement with the experiments. A large number of dominant injection channels and strong QD-substrate coupling are responsible for the Mn-induced rate enhancement, which could be achieved by manipulating the band structure mapping between the QD and the semiconductor oxide. By addressing the role of an Mn dopant in the electron injection process, strategies for the promotion of electron injection rates are proposed for the design of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Du
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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Maity P, Ghosh HN. Strategies for extending charge separation in colloidal nanostructured quantum dot materials. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:23283-23300. [PMID: 31621729 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03551f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Semiconductor colloidal metal chalcogenides (II-VI) in the form of quantum dots (QDs) and different heterostructures (core/shell, alloys, etc.) are of extensive interest in scientific research for both a fundamental understanding and technological applications because of their quantized size and different optical properties; however, due to their small size, the exciton (bound electron and hole) experiences a strong Coulombic attraction, which has a remarkable impact on the charge separation and photophysical properties of QDs. Thus, to achieve an efficient charge separation, numerous attempts have been made via the formation of different heterostructures, QD/molecular adsorbate (either organic or inorganic) assemblies, etc. These hybrid materials ameliorated the absorption of the incident light as well as charge separation. This article reviews the strategies for extending charge separation in these colloidal nanocrystals (NCs), which is one of the crucial steps to elevate the solar to electrical energy conversion efficiency in a quantum dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSC). The article summarizes the benefits of co-sensitization and experimental shreds of evidence for the multiple charge transfer processes involved in a QDSC. Studies have shown that in the co-sensitization process, prolonged charge separation occurs via the dual behavior of the molecular adsorbate, sensitization (electron injection) and capture of holes from photoexcited QDs. This perspective emphases band edge engineering and control of charge carrier dynamics in various core/shell structures. The impact of colloidal alloy NCs on charge separation and interesting photophysical properties was recapitulated via the steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. Finally, the prolonged lifetime and extent of charge separation for these hybrid NCs (or the composites) assisted in the development of a better light harvester as compared to the case of their pure counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Maity
- Radiation and Photochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai-400085, India.
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Shaikh JS, Shaikh NS, Mali SS, Patil JV, Beknalkar SA, Patil AP, Tarwal NL, Kanjanaboos P, Hong CK, Patil PS. Quantum Dot Based Solar Cells: Role of Nanoarchitectures, Perovskite Quantum Dots, and Charge-Transporting Layers. CHEMSUSCHEM 2019; 12:4724-4753. [PMID: 31347771 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201901505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) are attractive technology for commercialization, owing to various advantages, such as cost effectiveness, and require relatively simple device fabrication processes. The properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), such as band gap energy, optical absorption, and carrier transport, can be effectively tuned by modulating their size and shape. Two types of architectures of QDSCs have been developed: 1) photoelectric cells (PECs) fabricated from QDs sensitized on nanostructured TiO2 , and 2) photovoltaic cells fabricated from a Schottky junction and heterojunction. Different types of semiconductor QDs, such as a secondary, ternary, quaternary, and perovskite semiconductors, are used for the advancement of QDSCs. The major challenge in QDSCs is the presence of defects in QDs, which lead to recombination reactions and thereby limit the overall performance of the device. To tackle this problem, several strategies, such as the implementation of a passivation layer over the QD layer and the preparation of core-shell structures, have been developed. This review covers aspects of QDSCs that are essential to understand for further improvement in this field and their commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin S Shaikh
- Thin Film Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
| | - Navajsharif S Shaikh
- School of Materials Science and Innovation, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sawanta S Mali
- Polymer Energy Materials Laboratory, School of Advanced Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Jyoti V Patil
- Polymer Energy Materials Laboratory, School of Advanced Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Sonali A Beknalkar
- Thin Film Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
| | - Akhilesh P Patil
- The School of Nanoscience and Technology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
| | - N L Tarwal
- Thin Film Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
| | - Pongsakorn Kanjanaboos
- School of Materials Science and Innovation, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chang Kook Hong
- Polymer Energy Materials Laboratory, School of Advanced Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Pramod S Patil
- Thin Film Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
- The School of Nanoscience and Technology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 416004, India
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5
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Pan Z, Rao H, Mora-Seró I, Bisquert J, Zhong X. Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:7659-7702. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00431e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A comprehensive overview of the development of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxiao Pan
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- China
| | - Huashang Rao
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- China
| | - Iván Mora-Seró
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM)
- Universitat Jaume I
- 12006 Castelló
- Spain
| | - Juan Bisquert
- Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM)
- Universitat Jaume I
- 12006 Castelló
- Spain
| | - Xinhua Zhong
- College of Materials and Energy
- South China Agricultural University
- Guangzhou 510642
- China
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Poudyal U, Maloney FS, Sapkota K, Wang W. Carrier transport dynamics in Mn-doped CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cells. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:415401. [PMID: 28723678 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa80d7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) were fabricated with CdSe and Mn-doped CdSe quantum dots (QDs) using the SILAR method. QDSSCs based on Mn-doped CdSe QDs exhibited improved incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency. Carrier transport dynamics in the QDSSCs were studied using the intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy technique, from which transport and recombination time constants could be derived. Compared to CdSe QDSSCs, Mn-CdSe QDSSCs exhibited shorter transport time constant, longer recombination time constant, longer diffusion length, and higher charge collection efficiency. These observations suggested that Mn doping in CdSe QDs could benefit the performance of solar cells based on such nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma Poudyal
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming, Laramie Wyoming 82071, United States of America
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Pandey A, Sarma DD. Recent Advances in Manganese Doped II-VI Semiconductor Quantum Dots. Z Anorg Allg Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/zaac.201600368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anshu Pandey
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit; Indian Institute of Science; 560012 Bangalore India
| | - Dipankar Das Sarma
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit; Indian Institute of Science; 560012 Bangalore India
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