Enhanced Open-Circuit Voltage in Visible Quantum Dot Photovoltaics by Engineering of Carrier-Collecting Electrodes

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) enable multijunction solar cells using a single material programmed using the quantum size effect. Here we report the systematic engineering of 1.6 eV PbS CQD solar cells, optimal as the front cell responsible for visible-wavelength harvesting in tandem photovoltaics. We rationally optimize each of the device's collecting electrodes-the heterointerface with electron-accepting TiO(2) and the deep-work-function hole-collecting MoO(3) for ohmic contact-for maximum efficiency. We report an open-circuit voltage of 0.70 V, the highest observed in a colloidal quantum dot solar cell operating at room temperature. We report an AM1.5 solar power conversion efficiency of 3.5%, the highest observed in >1.5 eV bandgap CQD PV device.