Semiconductor quantum dots enhanced graphene/CdTe heterostructure solar cells by photo-induced doping

Abstract

We report a type of solar cells based on graphene/CdTe Schottky heterostructure, which can be improved by surface engineering as graphene is one-atomic thin. By coating a layer of ultrathin CdSe quantum dots onto graphene/CdTe heterostructure, the power conversion efficiency is increased from 2.08% to 3.1%. Photo-induced doping is mainly accounted for this enhancement, as evidenced by transport, photoluminescence and quantum efficiency measurements. This work demonstrates a feasible way of designing solar cells with incorporating one dimensional and two dimensional materials.