Revealing surface interactions in quantum dot based photovoltaic architectures (A perspective on the article, Electronic energy alignment at the PbSe quantum dots/ZnO(1010) interface by Timp and Zhu)

摘要

The demand of clean energy production has reenergized the scientific community in exploring next generation solar cells. The use of semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QD) as light harvesters has opened up new ways to utilize them in solar cells and other optoelectronic devices [1]. Three major approaches are currently being considered to utilize semiconductor QDs in solar cells (Scheme 1). These include, (ⅰ) metal-semiconductor or Schottky junction photovoltaic cell (ⅱ) polymer-semiconductor hybrid solar cell and (ⅲ) quantum dot sensitized solar cell.