Invited Paper EN-TuM1
Chasing the Photovoltaic Race with Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 8:00 am, Room 101 A

Assembling semiconductor nanostructures on electrode surfaces in a controlled fashion is an attractive approach for designing next generation solar cells. Quantum dot solar cells (QDSC) have emerged as the potential contender for making transformative changes. The size dependent electronic structure of quantum dots enables the design of photovoltaic devices with tailored electronic properties. We have now exploited this aspect in solar cells by assembling different size CdSe quantum dots on mesoscopic TiO₂ films either by direct adsorption or with the aid of molecular linkers. Upon bandgap excitation, CdSe quantum dots inject electrons into TiO₂ thus enabling the generation of photocurrent in a photoelectrochemical solar cell. Crystalline ternary metal chalcogenides (CuInS₂ and CdSeS) have been deposited within the mesoscopic TiO₂ film by electrophoretic deposition with a sequentially layered architecture. This approach has enabled us to design tandem layers of CdSeS QDs of varying bandgap within the photoactive anode of Quantum Dot Solar Cell (QDSC). Recent advances in the development of high efficiency QDSC will be described.