Environmentally friendly Mn-alloyed core/shell quantum dots for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical cells

摘要： Colloidal quantum dots (QDs)-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells are cost-effective devices showing remarkable solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. However, the extensive use of highly toxic elements (e.g. Pb and Cd) in QD’s synthesis and device fabrication is still a major challenge towards their practical development. Herein, we fabricate a solar-driven PEC cell based on environment-friendly Mn-alloyed CuInS2 (MnCIS)/ZnS core/shell QDs, showing more favorable band alignment, efficient charge transfer, reduced charge recombination as well as lower charge transfer resistance with respect to the control device fabricated using unalloyed CuInS2 (CIS)/ZnS core/shell QDs. An unprecedented photocurrent density of ~5.7 mA/cm2 with excellent stability was obtained in as-fabricated MnCIS/ZnS core/shell QDs-based PEC device when operated under standard one solar irradiation (AM 1.5G, 100 mW/cm2). These results indicate that the transition metal-alloyed environment-friendly core/shell QDs are promising for next-generation solar technologies.