Preparation of CdIn2S4-CdS nanocomposite via a green route and using them in dot-sensitized solar cells for boosting efficiency

Abstract

In this work In₂S₃ and CdS nanoparticles were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and then annealed at 500 °C for 2 h in an Ar gas until CdIn₂S₄(CdIS)-CdS nanocomposites were formed. Afterwards, efficiency of the as-synthesized CdIS-CdS nanocomposite in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) was evaluated. For this purpose, the as-prepared CdIS-CdS nanocomposites were deposited on TiO₂ by doctor's blade technique and electrophoresis deposition was used for fabrication of TiO₂ layer on the FTO glass substrate. Using CdIS-CdS nanocomposite led to obtaining 1.71% cell efficiency that in comparison with pure CdS (0.97%) and CdIn₂S₄ nanoparticles (95%), efficiency improvements of 76% and 80% were respectively achieved.