Performance enhancement of quantum dot sensitized solar cells by treatment of ZnO nanorods by magnesium acetate

In this work, the performance of Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is enhanced with the treatment of ZnO nanorods by magnesium acetate. A chemical solution method is used for decoration of magnesium acetate on the ZnO nanorods. Current density–voltage (J-V) results show short-circuit current density (J _sc ), open circuit voltage (V _oc ), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) are enhanced by treatment of the photoanode with magnesium acetate from 13.76 to 15.47 mAcm⁻², 557 to 668 mV, and 2.64 to 5.47%, respectively. This performance improvement of the cell is attributed to the reduction of the surface density of defects at ZnO surface and consequently decreasing recombination of the photoelectrons with surface defects at ZnO surface with the treatment of ZnO nanorods by magnesium acetate. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate recombination resistance is increased with decoration magnesium acetate on the ZnO nanorods, which is caused fill factor (FF) raises from 0.35 to 0.53. Also, electron lifetime at the photoanode/electrolyte interface is improved.