Recent progress in I-III-VI colloidal quantum dots-integrated solar cells
Zhonglin Du, Dongling Ma
Abstract
Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as an important class of nanocrystal materials for solar cell applications due to their outstanding properties, including tunable band gap, high charge carrier mobility, remarkable light absorption range, solution-processability, scalability, etc . The Lead (Pb)/Cadmium (Cd)-free I-III-VI QDs, designed by the reasonable chemical substitution of Pb and Cd with non-toxic elements, are booming as an attractive alternative for practical applications. This review summarizes the recent progress in designing typical I-III-VI QDs and their application in various emerging solar cell applications. The performance improvement of various solar cells due to the integration of QDs having different roles and modified device structures is summarized. In addition, the fundamentals of the I-III-VI QDs, including their crystalline structure, optical properties, and synthesis mechanisms, are described. Finally, we provide perspectives on the current status, challenges, and future directions of I-III-VI QDs-integrated solar cells.