Performance of ZnS and ZnSe Doped on Cu2+ for Photovoltaic Devices
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Keywords:
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ZnS Nano, ZnSe Nano, Passivated Layers, Recombination
Abstract
This study utilizes passive ZnS@Cu2+ and ZnSe@Cu2+ layers deposited on the CdS and CdSe quantum dots to reduce dark current and enhance photon absorption. The films were fabricated utilizing the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique with an optimized and suitable Cu/Zn doping ratio. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses indicate a change in the absorption edge within the visible light region when ZnS and ZnSe are doped with Cu2+ ions. Power conversion efficiency measurements reveal that the ZnSe@Cu2+ photoelectrode increases the current density (JSC ~23 mA.cm-2) compared to ZnS@Cu2+ The photoelectrode exhibits a short-circuit current density (JSC ≈ 22 mA · cm−2), leading to improved conversion efficiency. It also shows the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct2 = 33 − Ω), indicating efficient interfacial kinetics in the photoelectrode suggests more efficient electron transport and reduced recombination.
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Yella, A., H. W. Lee, H. N. Tsao, C. Yi, A. K. Chandiran, M. K. Nazeeruddin, and M. Grätzel (2011). Porphyrin-Sensitized Solar Cells With Cobalt (II/III)–Based Redox Electrolyte Exceed 12 Percent Efficiency. Science, 334(6056); 629–634.
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Zhou, Y., M. Eck, C. Veit, B. Zimmermann, F. Rauscher, P. Niyamakom, and M. Krüger (2011). Efficiency Enhancement for Bulk-Heterojunction Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Acid Treated CdSe Quantum Dots and Low Bandgap Polymer PCPDTBT. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 95(4);1232–1237
Zhu, W., Y. Y. Hu, W. Wang, Y. Xie, W. Xue, F. He, and Y. Li (2021). Surface Engineering Boosting Al/ZnCoincorporated Cu–In–Se Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 4(6); 5767–5774
Chandrakar, R. K., R. N. Baghel, V. K. Chandra, and B. P. Chandra (2015). Synthesis, Characterization and Photoluminescence Studies of Mn Doped ZnS Nanoparticles. Superlattices and Microstructures, 86; 256–269.
Chung, N. T. K., P. T. Nguyen, H. T. Tung, and D. H. Phuc (2021). Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell: Photoanodes, Counter Electrodes, and Electrolytes. Molecules, 26(9); 2638.
Firoozi, N., H. Dehghani, M. Afrooz, and S. S. Khalili (2018). Improvement Photovoltaic Performance of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Deposition of Metal-Doped ZnS Passivation Layer on the TiO2 Photoanode. Microelectronic Engineering, 198; 8–14.
Gopi, C. V., M. Venkata-Haritha, S. K. Kim, and H. J. Kim (2015). A Strategy to Improve the Energy Conversion Efficiency and Stability of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Manganese-Doped Cadmium Sulfide Quantum Dots. Dalton Transactions, 44(2); 630–638.
Hanna, M. C., M. C. Beard, and A. J. Nozik (2012). Effect of Solar Concentration on the Thermodynamic Power Conversion Efficiency of Quantum-Dot Solar Cells Exhibiting Multiple Exciton Generation. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 3(19); 2857–2862.
He, Y., H. Zhong, W. Hu, and Y. Li (2016). Cu2+ Modified ZnS Layers for Enhanced Performance in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells. Materials Research Bulletin, 79; 67–72.
Huang, F., J. Hou, H. Wang, H. Tang, Z. Liu, L. Zhang, and G. Cao (2017). Impacts of Surface or Interface Chemistry of ZnSe Passivation Layer on the Performance of CdS/CdSe Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells. Nano Energy, 32; 433–440.
Huang, F., J. Hou, Q. Zhang, Y. Wang, R. C. Massé, S. Peng, and G. Cao (2016). Doubling the Power Conversion Efficiency in CdS/CdSe Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells With a ZnSe Passivation Layer. Nano Energy, 26; 114–122.
Jun, H. K. and H. T. Tung (2022). A Short Overview on Recent Progress in Semiconductor Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2022(1); 1382580.
Kurniawan, M. R. H., S. A. Cahyani, N. Kusumawati, P. Setiarso, and S. Muslim (2025). Optimization of Radiation and Electric Current Storage in a Dye-Sensitized Solar-Cell System Based FTO/TiO2/Acy/PVDF/C/FTO Modules for Electrical Equipment Applications. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(2); 574–587.
Lee, H., H. Choi, N. G. Park, and J. Y. Kim (2013). Improved Performance of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using ZnS Passivation Layer. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 253; 150–156.
Lee, Y. L. and Y. S. Lo (2009). Highly Efficient Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on Co-Sensitization of CdS/CdSe. Advanced Functional Materials, 19(4); 604–609.
Lu, S., S. Peng, Z. Zhang, Y. Deng, T. Qin, J. Huang, and G. Cao (2018). Impacts of Mn Ion in ZnSe Passivation on Electronic Band Structure for High Efficiency CdS/CdSe Quantum Dot Solar Cells. Dalton Transactions, 47(29); 9634–9642.
Mo, Z. J., Z. H. Hao, J. Z. Deng, J. Shen, L. Li, J. F. Wu, and B. G. Shen (2017). Observation of Giant Magnetocaloric Effect Under Low Magnetic Field in Eu1-xBaxTiO3. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 694; 235–240.
Muthalif, M. P. A., Y. S. Lee, C. D. Sunesh, H. J. Kim, and Y. Choe (2017). Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells With a Progressive Reduction of Recombination Using Cu-Doped CdS Quantum Dots. Applied Surface Science, 396; 582–589.
Nguyen, V., L. Yan, N. Zhao, N. Van Canh, N. T. N. Hang, and P. H. Le (2021). Tuning Photoluminescence of Boron Nitride Quantum Dots via Surface Functionalization by Femtosecond Laser Ablation. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1244; 130922.
Phuc, D. H. and H. T. Tung (2018). The Effect of Thickness on the Performance of CdSe:Cu2+–Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells. Applied Physics A, 124(11); 731.
Rao, S. S., D. Punnoose, C. V. Tulasivarma, C. P. Kumar, C. V. Gopi, S. K. Kim, and H. J. Kim (2015). A Strategy to Enhance the Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by the Highly Efficient TiO2/ZnS Photoanode. Dalton Transactions, 44(5); 2447–2455.
Shen, T., J. Tian, L. Lv, C. Fei, Y. Wang, T. Pullerits, and G. Cao (2016). Investigation of the Role of Mn Dopant in CdS Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell. Electrochimica Acta, 191; 62–69.
Shockley, W. (1961). Problems Related to PN Junctions in Silicon. Solid-State Electronics, 2(1); 35–67.
Tyagi, J., H. Gupta, and L. P. Purohit (2021). Ternary Alloyed CdS1-xSex Quantum Dots on TiO2/ZnS Electrodes for Quantum Dots-Sensitized Solar Cells. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 880; 160480.
Van Thang, B., H. T. Tung, D. H. Phuc, T. P. Nguyen, T. Van Man, and L. Q. Vinh (2023). High-Efficiency Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Flexible rGO-Cu2S Electrodes Compared With PbS, CuS, Cu2S CEs. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 250; 112042.
Wang, Y., K. Chen, X. Liu, and J. Xu (2019). High Efficiency Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on PbS/CdS/ZnS Structure. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 193; 105–112.
Xie, C., B. Nie, L. Zeng, F. X. Liang, M. Z. Wang, L. Luo, and S. H. Yu (2014). Core–Shell Heterojunction of Silicon Nanowire Arrays and Carbon Quantum Dots for Photovoltaic Devices and Self-Driven Photodetectors. ACS Nano, 8(4); 4015–4022.
Yella, A., H. W. Lee, H. N. Tsao, C. Yi, A. K. Chandiran, M. K. Nazeeruddin, and M. Grätzel (2011). Porphyrin-Sensitized Solar Cells With Cobalt (II/III)–Based Redox Electrolyte Exceed 12 Percent Efficiency. Science, 334(6056); 629–634.
Yu, X. Y., B. X. Lei, D. B. Kuang, and C. Y. Su (2012). High Performance and Reduced Charge Recombination of CdSe/CdS Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 22(24); 12058–12063.
Zhang, Q., T. Zhang, and G. Cao (2015). Enhanced Efficiency of CdSe Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells With ZnSe
Shell. Electrochimica Acta, 176; 844–851
Zhou, Y., M. Eck, C. Veit, B. Zimmermann, F. Rauscher, P. Niyamakom, and M. Krüger (2011). Efficiency Enhancement for Bulk-Heterojunction Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Acid Treated CdSe Quantum Dots and Low Bandgap Polymer PCPDTBT. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 95(4);1232–1237
Zhu, W., Y. Y. Hu, W. Wang, Y. Xie, W. Xue, F. He, and Y. Li (2021). Surface Engineering Boosting Al/ZnCoincorporated Cu–In–Se Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 4(6); 5767–5774
Authors
Thuy, L. X., Thanh Tung, H., Dat, L. T., & Le Minh Nhan. (2025). Performance of ZnS and ZnSe Doped on Cu2+ for Photovoltaic Devices. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(3), 952–957. https://doi.org/10.26554/sti.2025.10.3.952-957
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.