Preparation of chemically deposited thin films of CdS/PbS solar cell

The present paper reports the preparation of a solar cell which has a cross-sectional scheme: ITO/CdS/PbS, containing a commercially transparent conductive ITO; chemically deposited n-type CdS (340 nm) and absorbed layer of p-type PbS (1400 nm). The structural and optical properties of the constituent films are presented. X-ray diffraction showed that all of the thin films are polycrystalline. Using scanning electron microscopy, the present study revealed that the films have uniform surface morphology over the substrate. The solar cell was characterized by determining the open circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and J–V under 40 mW/cm² solar radiation. The efficiency of the solar cells was 1.35%, which is much higher (0.041, 0.5 and 0.1–0.4%) and slightly smaller (1.65%) than some solar cells reported in the literature.     

Enhancing the performance of thin film CdS/PbS photovoltaic solar cells

This work investigates dependence of the short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, fill factor and efficiency of a thin film CdS/PbS solar cell on thickness of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer, thickness of window layer (CdS), concentration of uncompensated acceptors (width of space-charge region), carrier lifetime in PbS and the reflectivity from metallic back contact. The effect of optical losses, front and rear recombination losses as well as the recombination losses on space-charge region are also considered in this study. As a result, by thinning the front contact layer indium tin oxide from 400 to 100 nm and window layer (CdS) from 200 to 100 nm it is possible to reduce the optical losses from 32 to 20%. The effect of electron lifetime on the internal and external quantum efficiency can be neglected at high width of the space-charge region. The maximum current density of 18.4 mA/cm² is achieved at wide space-charge region (concentration of uncompensated acceptors = 10¹⁵ cm^?3) and the longest lifetime (τ_n = 10^?6 s) where the optical and recombination losses are about 55%. The maximum efficiency of 5.17%, maximum open-circuit voltage of 417 mV and approximately fixed fill factor of 74% are yielded at optimum conditions such as: electron lifetime = 10^?6 s; concentration of uncompensated acceptors = 10¹⁶ cm^?3; thickness of TCO = 100 nm; thickness of CdS = 100 nm; velocity of surface and rear recombination = 10⁷ cm/s and thickness of absorber layer = 3 μm. When the reflectance from the back contact is 100%, the cell parameters improve and the cell efficiency records a value of 6.1% under the above conditions.     

Synthesis and characterization of PbS nanorods and nanowires

 A surfactant assisted solvotermal approach for the controllable synthesis of PbS nanowires and nanorods is applied. The synthesis is based on decomposition of lead thiocyanate in boiling benzyl alcohol with Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide used as a surfactant. Nanowires of PbS (about 2–3 μm with an average diameter of 30–50 nm) and nanorods (200–300 nm in length with an axial ratio of 4–5) were synthesised. The nanostructures were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction analysis. The experimental results indicate that the reaction duration and concentration of surfactant play key roles in determining the final morphologies of PbS blocks building and also in their crystallinity. A possible mechanism for creation of PbS nanowires and nanorods is discussed.     

Mg-doped ZnO layer to enhance electron transporting for PbS quantum dot solar cells

In this work, the effect of Mg doping on the performance of PbS quantum dot (QD) solar cells (QDSCs) is investigated. To elucidate that, PbS QDSCs with pristine ZnO and Mg-doped ZnO (ZMO) as electron transporting layers (ETLs) are fabricated, respectively. The current density-voltage (J-V) measurements are performed. The results show that the cell efficiency of the device with ZMO as an ETL is 9.46%, which increases about 75% compared to that of the pristine ZnO based device (5.41%). Enhanced short current density (J_sc) and fill factor (FF) are observed. It is demonstrated that Mg doping could passivate the surface defects and suppress the carrier recombination in ZnO ETL, thus resulting in larger bandgap and higher Fermi level (E_F). The strategy of Mg-doped ZnO ETL provides a promising way for pushing solar cell performance to a high level.     

Optical properties of ZnO nanorods realised by aqueous chemical growth

Photoluminescence investigations of ZnO nanorods realised by an advanced two-step aqueous chemical growth process have been carried out revealing well-resolved near-band-edge emission accompanied by phonon replicas. The optical properties of nanorods with different lengths and diameters are quite similar indicating a good control of the growth process without influencing the optical properties even on plastic substrate. The near-band-edge emission has a very broad line-width of 10 meV. Annealing in Ar atmosphere reduces the deep-level emission with a corresponding increase of the near-band-edge emission.     

多环类苝四甲酸二酐插入层对ZnO纳米棒和聚合物复合太阳电池性能的影响

以ZnO纳米棒和聚[2-甲氧基-5-(2-乙基-己氧基)-1,4-苯撑乙烯撑](MEH-PPV)的复合体系作为光敏层制备了太阳电池.为了增大电池的光吸收,在ZnO纳米棒与MEH-PPV之间插入了有机n型小分子多环类苝四甲酸二酐(PTCDA),制备了不同厚度的PTCDA、结构为ITO/ZnO纳米棒/PTCDA/MEH-PPV/Au的太阳电池.实验发现,插入PTCDA后,电池在可见光区的吸收增强,光生激子数量增大,光电流密度增大.当蒸镀的PTCDA厚度为40 nm时,薄膜的粗糙度适中,表面形貌较为平滑,器件性 关键词： 有机太阳电池 ZnO纳米棒 聚合物     

CdS/ZnO纳米复合结构的制备、表征及其光催化活性的改善

利用简单的水热法在ZnO纳米棒表面合成CdS纳米粒子.用扫描电镜(SEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)对CdS/ZnO异质结构进行表征.实验结果表明,在生长CdS的过程中ZnO被逐渐地腐蚀.选择CdS/ZnO纳米复合材料作为光催化剂在紫外光和绿光照射的条件下降解甲基橙(MO).CdS/ZnO纳米复合材料纳米棒作为光催化剂降解...     

ZnO纳米棒的低温溶液法制备、光电特性研究及其在有机/无机复合电致发光中的应用

利用水热法制备了垂直于衬底的定向生长的ZnO纳米棒,利用扫描电子显微镜及光致发光的方法对其形貌及光学特性进行了表征,利用场发射性能测试装置对ZnO纳米棒的场发射性能进行了测试.结果表明:利用水热法在较低的温度(95 ℃) 下生长了具有较好形貌和结构的ZnO纳米棒,并表现出了较好的场发射特性,当电流密度为1 μA/cm²时,开启电场是2.8 V/μm,当电场为6.4 V/μm时,电流密度可以达到0.67 mA/cm²,场增强因子为3360.稳定性测试表明,在5 h内,4.5 V/μm的电场下,其波动不超过25%.将制备的ZnO纳米棒应用到有机/无机电致发光中,其中ZnO纳米棒为电子传输层,m-MTDATA(4,4',4″-tris{N,(3-methylphenyl)-N-phenylamino}-triphenylamine) 为空穴传输层,得到了ZnO的342 nm的紫外电致发光,此发光较ZnO纳米棒光致发光的紫外发射有约40 nm的蓝移. 关键词： ZnO纳米棒 场发射 水热法 有机/无机复合电致发光     

CdS/ZnO纳米复合结构制备及荧光特性研究

为增强CdS纳米粒子的荧光强度,以及稳定性,研究了Cd,S不同质量比,有无稳定剂等条件下CdS纳米粒子的制备及荧光特性。在碱性条件下,利用水热法合成了CdS/ZnO的纳米复合结构,并对所有样品进行了XRD、荧光光谱和SEM表征。测试结果表明所制备的CdS纳米粒子和CdS/ZnO的纳米复合结构粒子成分单一且纯净;ZnO复合在CdS表面;在紫外光(328.5 nm)激发下,CdS/ZnO纳米复合结构的发射峰位于463 nm处,峰形窄而对称,CdS/ZnO纳米复合结构的荧光强度比CdS纳米粒子的荧光强度有显著增强,且CdS和ZnO物质量之比为1∶1条件下,荧光强度最高,其荧光效率比单一CdS纳米粒子高出11%。通过第一性原理计算结果表明,CdS能带结构中,Cd-4d,S-3p和Cd-5s能带分别由5条、3条和1条能级构成,对比不同轨道的分态密度强度,看出CdS的导带边主要由Cd-5s轨道贡献,而价带边主要由S-3p轨道贡献,能量在-7 eV附近的电子态主要由Cd-4d轨道贡献。而ZnO上价带主要由O-2p电子构成,靠近费米能级的价带区域则主要由Zn-3d电子贡献,在导带部分,主要来源于Zn-4s和O-2p电子。由于在两种材料的复合结构中Zn-3d电子的能级和S-3p电子的能级接近,存在着二型带阶结构使能带变窄,容易形成跃迁,减小电子-空穴的复合,从而促进复合结构荧光效率的提高。     

Formation of aligned ZnO nanorods on self-grown ZnO template and its enhanced field emission characteristics

We report a novel method for producing aligned ZnO nanorods (ANR) on self-grown ZnO template in a single step process involving growth of ZnO by vapor transport, followed by quenching of growing ZnO flux in liquid nitrogen. In the present study Zn powder turns into ZnO sheet under oxygen flow at ∼900 °C and bottom surface of the sheet acts as template for the growth of ANR. It is revealed from XRD and EDAX analysis that the bottom of the sheet is Zn rich region and acts as self catalyst for the growth of ANR. The grown nanorods have length up to several tens of micrometers with diameters ranging from ∼100 to 150 nm. Microstructural analysis of ANR indicates the fractal like configuration. The field emission properties have been investigated for ANR with fractal geometry using the ANR on self-grown ZnO template as a cathode directly. The turn-on electric field required to draw current density of ∼1.0 μA/cm² has been found to be ∼0.98 V/μm. The field enhancement factor based on Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plot was found to be ∼7815 for ANR. The fractal geometry of ANR has been shown to be advantageous for achieving improved field emission features. The present investigations of synthesis involving formation of ANR over self-grown ZnO template, together with fractal configuration of the as-synthesized ANR, are first of their type.     

X-ray analysis of ZnO nanorods grown by microwave irradiation heating on ZnO films

Utilizing microwave irradiation heating, 100-nm-diameter ZnO nanorods were grown from aqueous solution on sputtered ZnO films on glass substrates. Its out-of-plane X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement indicated that the ZnO nanorods were grown with c-axis orientation, similar with the underlying ZnO films. In the in-plane XRD measurement, intensity of the () diffraction was comparable with that of the () one, suggesting their intensity ratio would contain useful information on nanorods density.     

Synthesis and optical properties of ZnO nanorods on indium tin oxide substrate

ZnO nanorods with uniform diameter and length have been synthesized on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrate by using a simple thermal evaporation method which is suitable to larger scale production and without any catalyst or additives. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-vis (UV-vis) absorption spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) spectrum and Raman spectrum. The single-phase ZnO nanorods grow well-oriented along the c-axis of its wurtzite structure on ITO substrate. The ZnO nanorods shows sharp and strong UV emission located at 380 nm without notable visible light emission in the PL spectrum, which suggests the good crystallinity of the nanorods, which was also testified by their Raman spectrum. The photodegradation of methylene orange (MO) in aqueous solution reveals that the well-arranged c-axis growth of ZnO nanorods possess evidently improved photocatalytic performance and these properties enable the ZnO nanorods potential application in UV laser.     

Triple‐Yolked ZnO/CdS Hollow Spheres for Semiconductor‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new kind of complex hollow structure, ZnO/CdS triple‐yolked hollow spheres (TYs), is prepared using a facile method. The formation mechanism is described in terms of a combined effect of the bubble‐assisted Ostwald ripening and appropriate ion‐exchange processes. The structural effect of ZnO hollow microspheres on the energy conversion efficiency is investigated. The uniqueness of TYs morphology leads to a 37% enhancement in energy conversion efficiency for SSSCs, as compared with single‐shelled hollow spheres. The method using controlled ZnO/CdS yolk‐in‐shell structures in SSSCs presents obvious advantages in the generation of light scattering and makes full use of the internal structures of the photoelectrode. It also provides a feasible synthetic approach for fabrication of other complex hollow structures made of multicomponent functional heteromaterials.     

Solvothermal synthesis of CdS nanorods using hydroxyethyl cellulose as a template

CdS nanorods were solvothermally produced from Cd(CH₃COO)₂ and S powder using ethylenediamine (en) as a solvent and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as a template. The phase with hexagonal structure was detected using XRD and SAED, which is in perfect accordance with the results obtained by simulation. SEM, TEM and HRTEM revealed the development of nanorods with a number of atoms arranged in crystal lattices. When the appropriate amount of HEC was used, the longest nanorods, with preferential growth in the [0 0 1] direction, were produced. Raman spectra showed the fundamental and overtone modes at the same wavenumbers of 301 and 599 cm⁻¹, respectively. Their relative intensities at each temperature were strongly influenced by the anisotropic geometry of the products. Photoluminescence caused by electron-hole recombination was detected at 470 nm, and by surface trapping induced emission at 575 nm. The formation mechanism of CdS nanorods was also proposed based on the experimental results.     

Effect of hydrogen gas on the growth process of PbS nanorods grown by a CVD method

PbS nanostructures were grown by sulfuration of two lead sheets in a tube furnace under nitrogen (N₂) and argon/hydrogen (Ar/H₂) conditions. All conditions, such as the sheet temperature, sulfur powder temperature, and the carrier gas rate, were the same for two samples. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed that the nanostructures with rod morphology were formed on the sheets. However, the nanorods that were grown under N₂ gas, were denser, more compact, and a different shape and size in comparison to another sample. In addition, the nanorods grown under N₂ gas exhibited a rectangular shape, while another sample showed nanorods that were tapered. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that these nanorods were PbS with a cubic phase. Furthermore, Raman measurements confirmed the XRD results, and indicated three Raman active modes of PbS phase. The optical characterization results showed a band gap for the PbS nanorods in the infrared region.     

Synthesis and properties of boron doped ZnO nanorods on silicon substrate by low-temperature hydrothermal reaction

Boron doped ZnO nanorods were fabricated by hydrothermal technique on silicon substrate covered with a ZnO seed layer. It is found that the concentration of boric acid in the reaction solution plays a key role in varying the morphology and properties of the products. The growth rate along the [0 0 0 1] orientation (average size in diameter) of the doped ZnO nanorods decreased (increased) with the increase of boric acid concentration. Based on the results of XRD, EDX and XPS, it is demonstrated that the boron dopants tend to occupy the octahedral interstice sites. The photoluminescence of the ZnO nanorods related to boron doping are investigated.     

醋酸锌热解温度对ZnO纳米棒的结构及光学性质的影响

采用水热法在普通载玻片上热解醋酸锌生成的ZnO种子层上制备ZnO纳米棒, 采用 X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜、分光光度计等测试手段详细研究了醋酸锌热解温度对 ZnO纳米棒的结构和光学性质的影响. 结果表明: 纳米棒的结晶质量、端面尺寸、宏观应力和透射率与醋酸锌热解温度有密切关系. 随着热解温度的增加, ZnO纳米棒具有的c轴择优取向性先增强后减弱, 拉应力先减小后增大, 可见光区的平均透射率先增大后减小. 热解温度为350 ℃时, ZnO纳米棒c轴择优取向性最强, 拉应力最小, 平均透射率最大. 端面尺寸诱导的表面散射 是影响ZnO纳米棒可见光区平均透射率的主要机制. 关键词： 醋酸锌 水热法 ZnO纳米棒     

Low-temperature growth of ZnO nanorods on PET fabrics with two-step hydrothermal method

An effective low-temperature growth method to fabricate hexagonally oriented ZnO nanorod arrays onto PET fabrics is reported. The effect of substrate pre-treatment and C₆H₁₂N₄ concentration on the structure of ZnO nanorod arrays were investigated in details by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FE-SEM and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). The results show that substrate pre-treatment, C₆H₁₂N₄ concentration indeed have great influence on the growth of ZnO nanorod arrays. It is indispensable to introduce a ZnO seed layer on the substrate and under growth condition of n(C₆H₁₂N₄):n[Zn(NO₃)₂] = 1:1, T = 90 °C, t = 3 h, the well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays with 40-50 nm in diameter and 300-400 nm in length were achieved on the pre-treated PET fabrics. The ZnO nanorods grown on PET fabrics possessed an ultrahigh ultraviolet protection factor of 480.52 in this study, indicating an excellent protection against ultraviolet radiation in comparison with the untreated PET fabrics.     

Room temperature synthesis of needle-shaped ZnO nanorods via sonochemical method

Single crystalline needle-shaped zinc oxide nanorods were synthesized via sonochemical methods using zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide at room temperature. Morphological investigation revealed that the nanoneedles are of hexagonal surfaces along the length. The typical diameter and length vary from 120 to 160 nm and 3 to 5 μm, respectively. Sonication time appears to be a critical parameter for the shape determination. Detailed structural characterization confirmed that the nanorods are single crystalline with wurtzite hexagonal phase. A standard peak of zinc oxide was observed at 520 cm⁻¹ from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ultra-violet visible and room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic results demonstrate that the synthesized material has good optical properties.