Photoelectric performance of TiO2 nanotube array photoelectrodes cosensitized with CdS/CdSe quantum dots

The photoresponse of TiO2 nanotube-array films in the visible region is shown to have been significantly improved by sensitizing them with CdS and CdSe semiconductor quantum dots using a sequential chemical bath deposition method. These quantum dots served as cosensitizers, and the performance of corresponding photoelectrode was measured in a photoelectrochemical solar cell. A 13.0 mA/cm2 short circuit current density is achieved with the TiO2/CdS/CdSe photoelectrode under AM 1.5G illuminations, which is higher than the direct sum of CdS and CdSe sensitized TiO2.