Photoassisted formation of Cu(x)S-based cathodes for CdS-sensitized solar cells with S(2-)/S(x)(2-) electrolyte

The sulfidation of copper nanoparticles deposited onto ZnO surface by the photocatalytic reduction of Cu(II) results in the formation of ZnO/CuxS films that can be used as efficient counter electrodes in solar cells based on sulfide/polysulfide electrolytes. The films are formed by the spherical copper sulfide nano/micro-aggregates of tabulate CuxS nanoparticles with x = 1.3-1.4. A model cell with a FTO/ZnO/CdS photoanode produced by SILAR and FTO/ZnO/CuxS films as counter-electrode showed a light conversion efficiency, η = 1.73%, which is 25% higher than a similar cell where copper sulfide was deposited onto ZnO in "dark" conditions. Varying the conditions of the photocatalytic deposition of the starting copper nanoparticles slightly affects the electrocatalytic properties of the final FTO/ZnO/CuxS heterostructures.