On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells
The possibility of achieving many electrons per absorbed photon of sufficient energy by quantum dots (QDs) drives the motivation to build high performance quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs). Although performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), with similar device configuration as that of QDSCs, h...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Royal Society of Chemistry
2013
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| Online Access: | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/5086/1/PCCP_Paper.pdf |
| _version_ | 1796989915740766208 |
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| author | Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir Rajan, Jose Nabilah, Alias M. M., Yusoff |
| author_facet | Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir Rajan, Jose Nabilah, Alias M. M., Yusoff |
| author_sort | Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir |
| collection | UMP |
| description | The possibility of achieving many electrons per absorbed photon of sufficient energy by quantum dots (QDs) drives the motivation to build high performance quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs). Although performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), with similar device configuration as that of QDSCs, has significantly improved in the last two decades QDSCs are yet to demonstrate impressive device performances despite the remarkable features of QDs as light harvesters. We investigated the fundamental differences in the optical properties of QDs and dyes using DFT calculations to get insights on the inferior performance of QDSCs. The CdSe QDs and the ruthenium bipyridyl dicarboxylic acid dye (N3) were used as typical examples in this study. Based on a generalized equation of state correlating material properties and photoconversion efficiency, we calculated ground and excited state properties of these absorbers at the B3LYP/lanl2dz level of DFT and analyzed them on the basis of the device performance. Five missing links have been identified in the study which provides numerous insights into building high efficiency QDSCs. They are (i) fundamental differences in the emitting states of the QDs in
the strong and weak confinement regimes were observed, which explained successfully the performance differences; (ii) the crucial role of bifunctional ligands that bind the QDs and the photo-electrode was identified; in most cases use of bifunctional ligands does not lead to a QD enabled widening of the absorption of the photo-electrode; (iii) wide QDs size distribution further hinders efficient electron injections; (iv) wide absorption cross-section of QDs favours photon harvesting; and (v) the role of redox
potential of the electrolyte in the QD reduction process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:44:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | UMPir5086 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Pahang |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T11:44:05Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | UMPir50862018-10-03T08:54:55Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/5086/ On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir Rajan, Jose Nabilah, Alias M. M., Yusoff QD Chemistry QC Physics The possibility of achieving many electrons per absorbed photon of sufficient energy by quantum dots (QDs) drives the motivation to build high performance quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs). Although performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), with similar device configuration as that of QDSCs, has significantly improved in the last two decades QDSCs are yet to demonstrate impressive device performances despite the remarkable features of QDs as light harvesters. We investigated the fundamental differences in the optical properties of QDs and dyes using DFT calculations to get insights on the inferior performance of QDSCs. The CdSe QDs and the ruthenium bipyridyl dicarboxylic acid dye (N3) were used as typical examples in this study. Based on a generalized equation of state correlating material properties and photoconversion efficiency, we calculated ground and excited state properties of these absorbers at the B3LYP/lanl2dz level of DFT and analyzed them on the basis of the device performance. Five missing links have been identified in the study which provides numerous insights into building high efficiency QDSCs. They are (i) fundamental differences in the emitting states of the QDs in the strong and weak confinement regimes were observed, which explained successfully the performance differences; (ii) the crucial role of bifunctional ligands that bind the QDs and the photo-electrode was identified; in most cases use of bifunctional ligands does not lead to a QD enabled widening of the absorption of the photo-electrode; (iii) wide QDs size distribution further hinders efficient electron injections; (iv) wide absorption cross-section of QDs favours photon harvesting; and (v) the role of redox potential of the electrolyte in the QD reduction process. Royal Society of Chemistry 2013-08-08 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/5086/1/PCCP_Paper.pdf Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir and Rajan, Jose and Nabilah, Alias and M. M., Yusoff (2013) On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 15 (38). pp. 16275-16285. ISSN 1463-9076 (print), 1463-9084 (online). (Published) http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3CP52858H DOI: 10.1039/C3CP52858H |
| spellingShingle | QD Chemistry QC Physics Saifful Kamaluddin, Muzakir Rajan, Jose Nabilah, Alias M. M., Yusoff On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title | On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full | On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_fullStr | On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_short | On the Missing Links in Quantum Dot Solar Cells: a DFT Study on Fluorophore Oxidation and Reduction Processes in Sensitized Solar Cells |
| title_sort | on the missing links in quantum dot solar cells a dft study on fluorophore oxidation and reduction processes in sensitized solar cells |
| topic | QD Chemistry QC Physics |
| url | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/5086/1/PCCP_Paper.pdf |
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