journal article·2024-07Open access

Optimizing Energy Levels and Improving Film Compactness in PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells by Silver Doping

Jing Li, Xiaoyu Zhang, Zeke Liu, Hua Wu, Anran Wang, Zhao Luo, Jianxun Wang, Wei Dong, Chen Wang, Shanpeng Wen, Qingfeng Dong, William W. Yu, Weitao Zheng

Small· Volume 20· Issue 29

Abstract

Abstract PbS quantum dot (QD) solar cells harvest near‐infrared solar radiation. Their conventional hole transport layer has limited hole collection efficiency due to energy level mismatch and poor film quality. Here, how to resolve these two issues by using Ag‐doped PbS QDs are demonstrated. On the one hand, Ag doping relieves the compressive stress during layer deposition and thus improves film compactness and homogeneity to suppress leakage currents. On the other hand, Ag doping increases hole concentration, which aligns energy levels and increases hole mobility to boost hole collection. Increased hole concentration also broadens the depletion region of the active layer, decreasing interface charge accumulation and promoting carrier extraction efficiency. A champion power conversion efficiency of 12.42% is achieved by optimizing the hole transport layer in PbS QD solar cells, compared to 9.38% for control devices. Doping can be combined with compressive strain relief to optimize carrier concentration and energy levels in QDs, and even introduce other novel phenomena such as improved film quality.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties · Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films · ZnO doping and properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials Ministry of Education School of Materials Science and Engineering Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High‐Efficiency Clean Energy Materials Jilin University Changchun 130012 China

Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon‐Based Functional Materials and Devices Soochow University Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China

Department of Chemistry‐Angström Physical Chemistry Uppsala University Uppsala 75120 Sweden

State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun 130012 China

College of Electronic Science & Engineering Jilin University Changchun 130012 China

School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 China

Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory for Science of Material Creation and Energy Conversion Science Center for Material Creation and Energy Conversion Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Science Shandong University Qingdao 266237 China

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · National Natural Science Foundation of China

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