Semiconductor quantum dots enhanced graphene/CdTe heterostructure solar cells by photo-induced doping

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that coating graphene/CdTe heterostructure solar cells with ultrathin CdSe quantum dots enhances efficiency through photo-induced doping, showcasing a novel approach to improve solar cell performance using nanomaterials.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new method of surface engineering in graphene/CdTe solar cells by applying quantum dots to achieve efficiency improvements via photo-induced doping.

Findings

Efficiency increased from 2.08% to 3.1%

Photo-induced doping confirmed by multiple measurements

Feasible design integrating nanomaterials for solar cells

Abstract

We report a type of solar cells based on graphene/CdTe Schottky heterostructure, which can be improved by surface engineering as graphene is one-atomic thin. By coating a layer of ultrathin CdSe quantum dots onto graphene/CdTe heterostructure, the power conversion efficiency is increased from 2.08% to 3.1%. Photo-induced doping is mainly accounted for this enhancement, as evidenced by transport, photoluminescence and quantum efficiency measurements. This work demonstrates a feasible way of designing solar cells with incorporating one dimensional and two dimensional materials.