Synthesis of near-infrared silver-indium-sulfide (AgInS2) quantum dots as heavy-metal free photosensitizer for solar cell applications

Abstract We report the use of silver-indium-sulfide (AgInS 2 ) quantum dots (QDs) as heavy metal-free photosensitizer for QDs-sensitized solar cell. For fabricating the TiO 2 /AgInS 2 electrode, the QDs were attached to a mesoporous TiO 2 surface by using bifunctional linker molecules. The fabricated TiO 2 /AgInS 2 electrode exhibits light absorption in the visible region and serves as the photoanode. Upon bandgap excitation, injection of photoexcited electrons from AgInS 2 QDs into the TiO 2 matrix produces photocurrents accordingly. The proof-of-concept AgInS 2 QDs-sensitized solar cell exhibits a short-circuit current of 0.49 mA/cm2 and open-circuit voltage of 0.24 V, under one sun illumination.

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