Synthesis of Group II-VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals via Phosphine Free Method and Their Application in Solution Processed Photovoltaic Devices.
Mingyue HouZhaohua ZhouAo XuKening XiaoJiakun LiDonghuan QinWei XuLintao HouPublished in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
Solution-processed CdTe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have exhibited astonishing potential in fabricating low-cost, low materials consumption and highly efficient photovoltaic devices. However, most of the conventional CdTe NCs reported are synthesized through high temperature microemulsion method with high toxic trioctylphosphine tellurite (TOP-Te) or tributylphosphine tellurite (TBP-Te) as tellurium precursor. These hazardous substances used in the fabrication process of CdTe NCs are drawing them back from further application. Herein, we report a phosphine-free method for synthesizing group II-VI semiconductor NCs with alkyl amine and alkyl acid as ligands. Based on various characterizations like UV-vis absorption (UV), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), among others, the properties of the as-synthesized CdS, CdSe, and CdTe NCs are determined. High-quality semiconductor NCs with easily controlled size and morphology could be fabricated through this phosphine-free method. To further investigate its potential to industrial application, NCs solar cells with device configuration of ITO/ZnO/CdSe/CdTe/Au and ITO/ZnO/CdS/CdTe/Au are fabricated based on NCs synthesized by this method. By optimizing the device fabrication conditions, the champion device exhibited power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.28%. This research paves the way for industrial production of low-cost and environmentally friendly NCs photovoltaic devices.
Keyphrases
- quantum dots
- low cost
- sensitive detection
- solar cells
- room temperature
- energy transfer
- highly efficient
- ionic liquid
- high temperature
- heavy metals
- high resolution
- reduced graphene oxide
- drinking water
- mass spectrometry
- magnetic resonance
- magnetic resonance imaging
- gold nanoparticles
- molecularly imprinted
- computed tomography
- oxide nanoparticles