Synthesis Of Zinc Selenide Quantum Dots By Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption And Reaction (SILAR) Method For Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSC)

Chang, Wan Ling (2018) Synthesis Of Zinc Selenide Quantum Dots By Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption And Reaction (SILAR) Method For Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSC). Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan dan Sumber Mineral. (Submitted)

[img]
Preview
PDF
Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) have been intensively concerned in the past decades. Zinc selenide (ZnSe) is an alternative material to replace toxic cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs). In this research, ZnSe QDs were deposited on TiO2 electrode as TiO2 photoanode using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method for QDSSCs. TiO2 electrode was formed with the deposition of TiO2 mesoporous film on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass after the sintering in furnace at 370 °C for 10 minutes, the temperature was increased to 450 °C and held for 30 minutes. Solar cells were prepared by sandwiching the TiO2 photoanode and Cu2S counter electrode with polysulfide electrolyte in the between. Effect of fluoride treatment on TiO2 mesoporous film prior to deposition of ZnSe QDs, number of SILAR cycles (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25), molar concentration of zinc acetate dihydrate solution (0.03 M, 0.05 M, 0.1 M, 0.3 M and 0.5 M), and the effect of ZnS blocking layer coating after ZnSe layer was studied. The samples were prepared and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and current density-voltage (J-V) measurement. ZnS blocking layer was found that did not contribute in improving the efficiency of QDSSCs due to its wide band gap of 3.10 eV. Generally, as number of SILAR cycles and molar concentration of precursor solution increased, the efficiency increased due to more and bigger ZnSe nuclei were formed in the TiO2 mesoporous film. However, pore-blocking on the TiO2 mesoporous structure may occur due to overloading of QDs. Sample with 20 SILAR cycles shows the highest efficiency of 0.6988 % while deposition using 0.1 M zinc acetate dihydrate solution shows efficiency of 0.5956 %. The sample with fluoride treatment on TiO2 mesoporous film also shows the higher efficiency of 0.4485 % than without fluoride treatment of 0.0679 %. In this research, the results can be concluded to suggest to carry out fluoride treatment on TiO2 mesoporous film prior deposition of 20 SILAR cycles of ZnSe QDs with 0.1 M of zinc acetate dihydrate solution.

Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
Subjects: T Technology
T Technology > TN Mining Engineering. Metallurgy
Divisions: Kampus Kejuruteraan (Engineering Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Bahan & Sumber Mineral (School of Material & Mineral Resource Engineering) > Monograph
Depositing User: Mr Engku Shahidil Engku Ab Rahman
Date Deposited: 05 Jul 2022 04:44
Last Modified: 05 Jul 2022 04:44
URI: http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/53270

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
Share