Superior ZnS deposition for augmenting the photostability and photovoltaic performance of PbS quantum-dot sensitized solar cells

Abstract Simply by elevating the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction temperature for ZnS deposition, we successfully demonstrated improved photostability of PbS-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) which was credited to efficient surface coverage of ZnS over PbS QDs and TiO 2 . Using open-circuit voltage decay and cyclic voltammetry techniques distinctly, it was affirmed that the back electron transfer at TiO 2 /PbS/electrolyte interface was reduced. Superior deposition of ZnS in terms of surface coverage not only exhibited increase in photocurrent density (from 20.7 mA/cm 2 to 22.3 mA/cm 2 ) and power conversion efficiency (from 3.1% to 3.4%), it also stabilized the normalized current significantly.