Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces

A recent study has reported a power-conversion efficiency of 5.1% for solar cells employing mesoporous TiO 2 films sensitized with quantum dots of stibnite (Sb 2S 3). Here, a first-principles atomic-scale investigation of the...

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Main Authors: Patrick, C, Giustino, F
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Patrick, C
Giustino, F
author_facet Patrick, C
Giustino, F
author_sort Patrick, C
collection OXFORD
description A recent study has reported a power-conversion efficiency of 5.1% for solar cells employing mesoporous TiO 2 films sensitized with quantum dots of stibnite (Sb 2S 3). Here, a first-principles atomic-scale investigation of the interface between TiO 2 and Sb 2S 3 is presented. The proposed atomistic interface model is free of defects, and the calculated energy-level alignment at the interface indicates that the ideal open-circuit voltage is as high as 1.6 V. Films sensitized with the isostructural compounds bismuthinite (Bi 2S 3) and antimonselite (Sb 2Se 3), which exhibit band gaps closer to the ideal Shockley-Queisser value are also examined. In the case of Bi 2S 3 the calculations indicate that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is too low in energy to inject electrons into TiO 2, in agreement with experimental data. For antimonselite (Sb 2Se 3) the calculations predict a type-II heterojunction with TiO 2, and suggest that Sb 2Se 3 sensitization may lead to higher power conversion efficiencies than found in the TiO 2/Sb 2S 3 system. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
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spelling oxford-uuid:10101b78-ef0a-42a4-a3fd-f1ab6fd649772022-03-26T09:54:26ZStructural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell InterfacesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:10101b78-ef0a-42a4-a3fd-f1ab6fd64977EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Patrick, CGiustino, FA recent study has reported a power-conversion efficiency of 5.1% for solar cells employing mesoporous TiO 2 films sensitized with quantum dots of stibnite (Sb 2S 3). Here, a first-principles atomic-scale investigation of the interface between TiO 2 and Sb 2S 3 is presented. The proposed atomistic interface model is free of defects, and the calculated energy-level alignment at the interface indicates that the ideal open-circuit voltage is as high as 1.6 V. Films sensitized with the isostructural compounds bismuthinite (Bi 2S 3) and antimonselite (Sb 2Se 3), which exhibit band gaps closer to the ideal Shockley-Queisser value are also examined. In the case of Bi 2S 3 the calculations indicate that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is too low in energy to inject electrons into TiO 2, in agreement with experimental data. For antimonselite (Sb 2Se 3) the calculations predict a type-II heterojunction with TiO 2, and suggest that Sb 2Se 3 sensitization may lead to higher power conversion efficiencies than found in the TiO 2/Sb 2S 3 system. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
spellingShingle Patrick, C
Giustino, F
Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title_full Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title_fullStr Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title_full_unstemmed Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title_short Structural and Electronic Properties of Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar-Cell Interfaces
title_sort structural and electronic properties of semiconductor sensitized solar cell interfaces
work_keys_str_mv AT patrickc structuralandelectronicpropertiesofsemiconductorsensitizedsolarcellinterfaces
AT giustinof structuralandelectronicpropertiesofsemiconductorsensitizedsolarcellinterfaces