Improved Photovoltaic Performance of CdS/CdSe Co-Sensitized Solar Cells by Using CuS/FeS Counter Electrodes

Improved photovoltaic performance of CdS/CdSe co-sensitized solar cells by using CuS/FeS counter electrodes is reported. CuS and CuS/FeS counter electrodes were deposited on FTO substrates by chemical bath deposition and spin coating process. The as-obtained electrodes were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. CdS and CdSe quantum dots were assembled onto TiO2 photoanodes by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction to fabricate CdSe/CdS co-sensitized TiO2-based cells. An improved power conversion efficiency of 4.20% was achieved for CuS/FeS counter electrode at one sun illumination (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW.cm(-2)), which showed an increase of 27% compared to CuS counter electrode.