CdS Quantum Dots Sensitized TiO2 Nanotube-Array Photoelectrodes

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (4), 1124 -1125, 2008. 10.1021/ja0777741 S0002-7863(07)07774-8
Web Release Date: January 10, 2008

CdS Quantum Dots Sensitized TiO₂ Nanotube-Array Photoelectrodes

Wen-Tao Sun, Yuan Yu, Hua-Yong Pan, Xian-Feng Gao, Qing Chen, and Lian-Mao Peng*

Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices and Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

lmpeng@pku.edu.cn

Received October 9, 2007

Abstract:

Novel CdS quantum dots (QDs) sensitized TiO₂ nanotube-array photoelectrodes were investigated for their photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. The highly ordered TiO₂ nanotube arrays were synthesized by anodic oxidation and CdS QDs were deposited into the pores of the nanotube arrays by a sequential chemical bath deposition method. It is found that the CdS QDs deposited in the pores of the TiO₂ nanotube arrays may significantly increase the liquid junction PEC short circuit photocurrent (from 0.22 to 7.82 mA/cm²) and cell efficiency (up to 4.15%). These results clearly demonstrate that the unique nanotube structure can facilitate the propagation and kinetic separation of photogenerated charges, suggesting potentially important applications of the inorganic QDs sensitized TiO₂ nanotube-array films in solar cell applications.

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