Fabrication of CuInTe2 and CuInTe(2-x)Se(x) ternary gradient quantum dots and their application to solar cells.

We report the first synthesis of colloidal CuInTe2, CuInTe2-xSex gradient alloyed quantum dots (QDs) through a simple hot injection method. We confirmed the composition of synthesized QDs to cationic rich phase of CuIn1.5Te2.5 and Cu0.23In0.36Te0.19Se0.22 with XPS and ICP analysis, and we have also found that the gradient alloyed Cu0.23In0.36Te0.19Se0.22 QDs exhibit greatly improved stability over the CuIn1.5Te2.5 QDs. The solution-processed solar cell based on the gradient alloyed Cu0.23In0.36Te0.19Se0.22 QDs exhibited 17.4 mA/cm(2) of short circuit current density (Jsc), 0.40 V of open circuit voltage (Voc), 44.1% of fill factor (FF), and 3.1% of overall power conversion efficiency at 100 mW/cm(2) AM 1.5G illumination.

Panchromatic photon-harvesting by hole-conducting materials in inorganic-organic heterojunction sensitized-solar cell through the formation of nanostructured electron channels.

Additional photon-harvesting by hole transporting materials in Sb(2)S(3)-sensitized solar cell is demonstrated through the formation of electron channels in the hole transporter such as P3HT (poly(3-hexylthiophene)) and PCPDTBT(poly(2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)) that can act as both a hole conductor and light absorber. As a result, the short-circuit current density is improved with an increment in overall efficiency. These findings provide new insights into use of light-absorbing conjugated polymers as a hole conductor in the inorganic-organic heterojunction sensitized solar cells.