Quantum Dots Revolutionize Solar Cell Efficiency

In an article recently published in the Journal of Environmental Friendly Materials, the authors reviewed the recent advances in quantum material development for solar cell construction.

Study: Quantum Dots: Revolutionizing Solar Cell Efficiency . Image Credit: Komsan Loonprom/Shutterstock

Background

Solar cells, one of the most crucial equipment in the novel and clean energy domain, play an important role in decreasing environmental pollution. Thus, considerable efforts have been made to increase solar cell efficiency. Quantum science has made a substantial contribution to this effort.

Quantum materials are among the new materials used for developing solar cells, with different types of quantum dots receiving special attention. Quantum dots containing various materials like lead, gallium, carbon, and graphene can significantly enhance solar cell efficiency.

Additionally, the solar cells developed using quantum dot technology display 1% to more than 15% improvements in power conversion efficiency than conventional solar cells. In this paper, the authors reviewed the application of quantum dots for the development of solar cells.

Indium Phosphide (InP) Quantum Dots

InP quantum dots are colloidal quantum dots used in developing solar cells. These quantum dots possess a high absorption coefficient and a suitable band gap. Additionally, the inherent toxicity of InP quantum dots is less compared to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), which further increases the importance of the material.

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For instance, the effect of applying InP quantum dots on the titanium dioxide (TiO₂) layer was investigated in a study by creating a 10 nm quantum dot layer on the surface. The results demonstrated an increase in solar cell efficiency up to 19.2%, which is a substantial increase without the presence of Cd and Pb quantum dots.

Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) Quantum Dots

CdS quantum dots are common nanoparticles playing a critical role in core-shell quantum dots and are typically utilized for solar cells and biomarkers. The sol-gel method is one of the prominent techniques for applying and synthesizing CdS quantum dots. Studies have displayed that important characteristics can be created on the solar cell using the sol-gel method. The application of a CdS quantum layer results in a 72% increase in the solar cell efficiency compared to the efficiency of the original solar cell.

Additionally, the use of CdS quantum dots also leads to an 18.9% increase in power conversion efficiency than the efficiency realized using gallium arsenide (GaAs) quantum dots. Typically, an increase in efficiency can be observed with the increase in the CdS quantum particle size.

For instance, the efficiency increases from 0.150 to 0.480 when the CdS particle size increases from 3.210 nm to 4.400 nm. The simultaneous application of CdS and lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots on the solar cell surface prevents excessive lead quantum dot growth, which enhances the solar cell efficiency.

Moreover, both sulfides' mutual penetration leads to the deactivation of high-density defects, which further increases the efficiency. Studies have shown that TiO₂ solar cells sensitized to CdS and PbS can increase the cell efficiency by five times.

Gold (Au) Quantum Dots

Metallic Au nanoparticles (NPs) with multilayer Au atoms are utilized for different applications. However, recent studies have displayed the significance of Au NPs as new quantum dots for solar cell development. A study has investigated the presence of Au NPs in the solar cell.

Results displayed that the Au NPs' structures on the cell were polycrystalline and the solar cell efficiency was increased by 15% due to these NPs. Other studies have also shown that the presence of Au quantum dots results in a 16% increase in the power conversion efficiency of solar cells.

Gallium (Ga) Quantum Dots

The performance of solar cells with Ga quantum dots has been investigated in a study. Results displayed that GaSb/GaAs quantum dots improved the solar cell performance, with a 36.3% increase in the solar cell efficiency. Additionally, the application of indium arsenide/gallium nitride arsenide (InAs/GaNAs) quantum dots in direct doping leads to a rise in photocurrent by optical transitions and a 29% increase in solar cell efficiency.

Carbon-based Quantum Dots

Different carbon quantum dots have been utilized or doped into the hole transport layer (HTL), electron transport layer (ETL), counter electrode, and photoanode of several photovoltaic cell configurations, including organic solar cells (OSC) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Carbon quantum dots with CdS quantum dots can significantly improve solar cell performance.

For instance, the power conversion efficiency increases from 0.265, when only carbon quantum dots are used, to 0.616, when both CdS and carbon quantum dots are used simultaneously. In perovskite solar cells, the presence of carbon quantum dots increased the power conversion efficiency from 16.57% to 20.44%, and the fill factor from 70% to 75%.

To summarize, this review effectively showed the growing role of quantum materials, specifically quantum dots, in enhancing the efficiency of solar cells.

Journal Reference

Ashkani, O., Abedi-Ravan, B., YarAhmadi, Y. (2024). Recent Advances in the Development of Quantum Materials for the Construction of Solar Cells: A Mini Review. Journal of Environmental Friendly Materials, 8(1), 67-75. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jefm/Article/1122699

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