Wet chemical synthesis of lead sulfide nanoparticles and its application as light harvester in photovoltaic cell

Nanosized PbS particles are synthesized under an inert atmosphere by a low temperature method by using precursor solutions of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) and sodium sulfide (Na2S). 3-Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as capping agent. Phase, crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of the nanoparticles are confirmed from XRD, SEM, TEM and UV–Visible-NIR analysis. Application study of the synthesized PbS nanoparticles has been done by fabricating a photovoltaic cell consisiting of a mesoporous TiO2 photoanode, electrodeposited platinum counter electrode and iodine/triiodide liquid electrolyte. I-V and impedance of the PbS sensitized cell is measured under one sun illumination and obtained an efficiency of 0.31%, open-circuit voltage of 0.61 V, short circuit current of 0.86 mA/cm2 and a fill factor of 58.2%