Back to Search
Start Over
Highly loaded PbS/Mn-doped CdS quantum dots for dual application in solar-to-electrical and solar-to-chemical energy conversion
- Source :
- Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 227:409-417
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2018.
-
Abstract
- Among the various renewable sources of energy, solar energy conversion systems have been regarded as a promising way to satisfy the growing energy demand. For superior solar energy conversion performance, it is important to utilize efficient photosensitizers that have excellent light-harvesting capability. In this regard, quantum dots (QDs) are promising photosensitizer candidates owing to their high absorption coefficient, band gap tunability, and potential multiple exciton generation. Here, we report an effective and straightforward approach to improve the loadings of nanocomposite PbS/CdS QDs in a mesoporous electrode, for highly efficient solar energy conversion. By controlling the surface charge of TiO2 during the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process, both the PbS and CdS QD loadings are distinctly increased, leading to a highly enhanced light-harvesting capability of the photoelectrodes. This enhancement is effectively applied not only for solar-to-electrical but also for solar-to-chemical energy conversion, resulting in a ∼33% increased conversion efficiency of the QD solar cells and an unprecedented photocurrent of 22.1 mA/cm2 (at 0.6 V vs. RHE) for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical water splitting. These results provide significant insight into the application of QD photosensitizers in solar energy conversion.
- Subjects :
- Materials science
business.industry
Band gap
Process Chemistry and Technology
Energy conversion efficiency
02 engineering and technology
010402 general chemistry
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
01 natural sciences
Catalysis
0104 chemical sciences
Renewable energy
Multiple exciton generation
Chemical energy
Quantum dot
Energy transformation
Optoelectronics
Water splitting
0210 nano-technology
business
General Environmental Science
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 09263373
- Volume :
- 227
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........c10d5485fd0db4a954097cb4ed4c5dc0