Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance in AgSbS2Liquid-Junction Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar Cells

Ternary semiconductor AgSbS 2 nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be a potential absorber material for solar cells. This work reports on the improved photovoltaic performance of liquid-junction AgSbS 2 semiconductor-sensitized solar cells, prepared by growth of AgSbS 2 nanoparticles on a nanoporous TiO 2 electrode using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process. The dependence of performance on the counter electrode and annealing atmosphere was investigated. The optimal performance was found in solar cells annealed in a N 2 atmosphere with Au or Cu 2 S counter electrode. The best cell yielded a short-circuit current density J sc of 8.30 mA/cm 2 , a open-circuit voltage V oc of 0.30 V, a fill factor of 32.8% and an efficiency η of 0.79% under 100 mW/cm 2 light illumination. As the light intensity was reduced to 0.148 sun, the η increased to 1.28%, which is ∼ 300% larger than the η of 0.42% reported previously.