Alternate monolayers of CdSe nanocrystals and perylene tetracarboxylate: quantum dot hypersensitization for dye-sensitized solar cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2012 Jun 27;4(6):3233-8. doi: 10.1021/am300590a. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

Mono- and multilayers from CdSe nanocrystal dispersion and perylene tetracarboxylate solution are reported for the first time. The layers were investigated by UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, photoconductivity, and photoelectrochemical techniques. The n-type organic semiconductor gives enhanced photoconductivity to the CdSe-NC multilayer structure. The photoactive perylene monolayer acts also as hypersensitizer of CdSe-NC structures. The perylene-modified CdSe-NC monolayer on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode in a three-electrode photoelectrochemical cell upon illumination in the presence of oxygen generates an intense steady photocurrent as high as 10-20 times that expected from the individual contributions of perylene and CdSe-NCs. The hypersensitization mechanism is discussed on the basis of the energy level diagram of the components.

MeSH terms

  • Cadmium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Electrodes
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Perylene / chemistry*
  • Selenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Solar Energy*
  • Tin Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Cadmium Compounds
  • Coloring Agents
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Tin Compounds
  • Perylene
  • indium tin oxide
  • cadmium selenide