Issue 5, 2015

Photoassisted formation of CuxS-based cathodes for CdS-sensitized solar cells with S2−/Sx2− electrolyte

Abstract

The sulfidation of copper nanoparticles deposited onto ZnO surface by the photocatalytic reduction of Cu(II) results in the formation of ZnO/CuxS films that can be used as efficient counter electrodes in solar cells based on sulfide/polysulfide electrolytes. The films are formed by the spherical copper sulfide nano/micro-aggregates of tabulate CuxS nanoparticles with x = 1.3–1.4. A model cell with a FTO/ZnO/CdS photoanode produced by SILAR and FTO/ZnO/CuxS films as counter-electrode showed a light conversion efficiency, η = 1.73%, which is 25% higher than a similar cell where copper sulfide was deposited onto ZnO in “dark” conditions. Varying the conditions of the photocatalytic deposition of the starting copper nanoparticles slightly affects the electrocatalytic properties of the final FTO/ZnO/CuxS heterostructures.

Graphical abstract: Photoassisted formation of CuxS-based cathodes for CdS-sensitized solar cells with S2−/Sx2− electrolyte

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Aug 2014
Accepted
09 Feb 2015
First published
10 Feb 2015

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015,14, 942-947

Photoassisted formation of CuxS-based cathodes for CdS-sensitized solar cells with S2−/Sx2− electrolyte

A. Kozytskiy, O. Stroyuk, M. Skoryk and S. Kuchmiy, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015, 14, 942 DOI: 10.1039/C4PP00314D

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