Quantum-dot tandem solar cells based on a solution-processed nanoparticle intermediate layer

Long Hu, Yutao Wang, Sunil B. Shivarudraiah, Jianyu Yuan, Xinwei Guan, Xun Geng, Adnan Younis, Yicong Hu, Shujuan Huang, Tom Wu, Jonathan E. Halpert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tandem cells are one of the most effective ways of breaking the single junction Shockley-Queisser limit. Solution-processable phosphate-buffered saline (PbS) quantum dots are good candidates for producing multiple junction solar cells because of their size-tunable band gap. The intermediate recombination layer (RL) connecting the subcells in a tandem solar cell is crucial for device performance because it determines the charge recombination efficiency and electrical resistance. In this work, a solution-processed ultrathin NiO and Ag nanoparticle film serves as an intermediate layer to enhance the charge recombination efficiency in PbS QD dual-junction tandem solar cells. The champion devices with device architecture of indium tin oxide/S-ZnO/1.45 eV PbS-PbI2/PbS-EDT/NiO/Ag NP/ZnO NP/1.22 eV PbS-PbI2/PbS-EDT/Au deliver a 7.1% power conversion efficiency, which outperforms the optimized reference subcells. This result underscores the critical role of an appropriate nanocrystalline RL in producing high-performance solution-processed PbS QD tandem cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2313-2318
Number of pages6
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • tandem solar cell
  • PbS quantum dots
  • complementary absorption
  • recombination layer
  • intermediate layer

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