A novel CdTe/Eu-MOF photoanode for application in quantum dot-sensitized solar cell to improve power conversion efficiency

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2017.04.002
• Publication Date: 2017-04-09T10:45:34Z
• Authors: Rajnish Kaur; Amit L. Sharma; Ki-Hyun Kim; Akash Deep
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 7. Clean energy

The quantum dots (QDs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as the efficient nanomaterials for light harvesting, photocatalysis, and photovoltaic applications. Here, the application of a composite of CdTe QDs with a europium-MOF was demonstrated as a novel photoanode to achieve the improvement in the short circuit current density from 19.8 (CdTe QD) to 28.45 mA/cm2 (CdTe QD/Eu-MOF). So does power conversion efficiency (PCE) between the former (1.67%) and the latter (3.02%). This 1.35% of difference (or absolute enhancement) in the PCE can be attributed to an enhanced surface area and increased photon absorption capacity.