1. Engineering interfacial structure in 'Giant' PbS/CdS quantum dots for photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion
- Author
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Andrea Camellini, Haiguang Zhao, Xin Tong, Shuhui Sun, Lei Jin, Margherita Zavelani-Rossi, Gianluca Sirigu, F. Rosei, Corrado Spinella, Andrea Parisini, Giuseppe Nicotra, Vittorio Morandi, and Alberto Vomiero
- Subjects
Giant quantum dot ,In situ ,energy conversion ,Materials science ,Settore ING-IND/22 - Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali ,quantum dots ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,7. Clean energy ,01 natural sciences ,Core shell ,Molar ratio ,General Materials Science ,Renewable Energy ,Photoelectrochemical ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Core/shell ,CdS ,PbS ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Materials Science (all) ,Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Experimental physics ,Quantum dot ,Solar energy conversion ,Optoelectronics ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Layer (electronics) - Abstract
The interfacial structure in "giant" PbS/CdS quantum dots (QDs) was engineered by modulating the Cd:S molar ratio during in situ growth. The control of the gradient interfacial layer could facilitate hole transfer, regulate the transition from double- to single-color emission, as a consequence. These QDs are optically active close-to-the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region and are candidates as absorber materials in solar energy conversion. Photoinduced charge transfer from "giant" QDs to electron scavenger can still take place despite the ultra-thick (~5 nm) shell. The hybrid architecture based on a TiO2 mesoporous framework sensitized by the "giant" QDs with alloyed interface can produce a saturated photocurrent density as high as ~5.3 mA/cm2 in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell under 1 Sun illumination, which is around 2 times higher than that of bare PbS and core/thin-shell PbS/CdS QDs sensitizer. The as-prepared PEC device presented very good stability thanks to the "giant" core/shell QDs architecture with tailored interfacial layer and a further coating of the ZnS shell. 78% of the initial current density is kept after 2-h irradiation at 1 Sun. Engineering of electronic band structure plays a key role in boosting the functional properties of these composite systems, which hold great potential for H2 production in PEC devices.
- Published
- 2016
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