Carbon quantum dots-embedded graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes for enhancing the power conversion efficiency of sensitized solar cells

초록

Graphitic carbon nitride (CN) has been widely used as a photocatalyst. Very few researchers have reported the use of CN in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). In this study, we prepared nitrogen rich carbon quantum dot (CQD)-embedded CN nanotubes (CCNTs) with freeze-dried urea and CQD precursors. The prepared CCNTs were used as efficient light harvesters in QDSCs for the first time; their use significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cells compared to those of CQD, CN NT, and bulk CN-sensitized solar cells. The CCNT-sensitized solar cell exhibits 1.01% PCE, which is the highest value among carbon-based QDSCs. Moreover, the CCNTs-sensitized device showed superior photostability over those of CQDs-, CN NTs-, and bulk CN-sensitized devices. The improved performance of the CCNT-sensitized solar cell can be attributed to the facilitated photoelectron transport and suppressed charge recombination. The integration of nitrogen-rich CQDs in CCNTs adjusts the band alignment and maximizes the visible light harvest by reducing the energy barriers, which improves the charge collection efficiency of the device. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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