A strategy for enhancing the performance of CdS-based hybrid photovoltaic cells via Co addition
Abstract
This paper demonstrates the positive role of Co atoms on the performance of CdS-based hybrid photovoltaics. Spherical shaped CdS and CdS:Co films were grown on indium tin oxide (ITO)-covered glass slides, while P3HT was individually covered on these spheres. The transparency of devices improved with introducing the Co atoms into CdS matrix in the near infrared region, while a corresponding reduction in absorption was noted. Photoluminescence (PL) data showed that a diminish in the peak intensity of PL, suggesting the development of additional defect levels in the band gap which behaves as non-radiative recombination centers. The current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics indicated that the ITO/N719/CdS:Co(5%)/P3HT/Ag device achieved an overall efficiency of 0.028%, representing almost a sixfold increase over the control device. This enhancement is possibly attributed to the enhanced generation of electron-hole pairs owing to effective charge separation at the CdS:Co/P3HT interface.
Keywords
CdS:Co thin films, P3HT, CBD, optical properties, power conversion efficiency
References
- [1] Yılmaz, S., Tomakin, M., Polat, İ., Bacaksız, E., (2023). Facile synthesis and characterization of CdS thin flms doped by yttrium atoms, Applied Physics A 129, 579.
- [2] Polat, İ., Yılmaz, S., Küçükömeroğlu, T., Tomakin, M., Bacaksız, E., (2024). Performance assessment of oxygenated CdS films-based photodetector, Materials Today Communications 38, 107924.
- [3] Vanalakar, S.A., Patil, V.L., Patil, S.M., Deshmukh, S.P., Patil, P.S., Kim, J.H., (2022). Chemical and gas sensing property tuning of cadmium sulfide thin films, Materials Science and Engineering B 282, 115787.
- [4] Murai, H., Abe, T., Matsuda, J., Sato, H., Chiba, S., Kashiwaba, Y., (2005). Improvement in the light emission characteristics of CdS:Cu/CdS diodes, Applied Surface Science 244, 351–354.
- [5] Rana, M.S., Islam, M.M., Julkarnain, M., (2021). Enhancement in efficiency of CZTS solar cell by using CZTSe BSF layer, Solar Energy 226, 272-287.
- [6] Yılmaz, S., Tomakin, M., Ünverdi, A., Aydın, A., Polat, İ., Bacaksız, E., (2020). Structural, morphological, optical analyses of Ni doped CdS thin films and their photovoltaic performance in hybrid solar cells, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 31, 12932–12942.
- [7] Han, Y.-X., Yang, C.-L., Sun, Y.-T., Wang, M.-S., Ma, X.-G., (2014). The novel optical properties of CdS caused by concentration of impurity Co, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 585, 503-509.
- [8] Pitchaimani, K., Amalraj, L., Muthukumaran, S., (2016). Investigation of structural, photoluminescence and antibacterial behavior of Mn-doped and Co, Mn dual doped CdS thin films by CBD method, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 27, 12021–12027.
- [9] Grynko, D.O., Fedoryak, O.M., Smertenko, P.S., Ogurtsov, N.A., Pud, A.A., Noskov, Y.V., Dimitriev, O.P., (2013). Application of a CdS nanostructured layer in inverted solar cells, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 46, 495114.
- [10] Yılmaz, S., Polat, İ., Tomakin. M., Ünverdi, A., Bacaksız, E., (2019). Enhanced efficiency of CdS/P3HT hybrid solar cells via interfacial modification, Turkish Journal of Physics 43, 116 – 125.