Ag2S quantum dots and N3 dye co-sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays for a solar cell

Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) and N3 dye co-sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays (Ag2S-N3-TNAs) were prepared by the processes of anodization method followed by sequential chemical bath deposition (S-CBD) approach and dye sensitization, using FTO-based titanium film formed by vacuum ion coating method as a precursor. XRD, EDS, FE-SEM, TEM, UV–vis diffuse reflectance and photo electrochemical measurements were used to characterize the samples. Fabricated co-sensitized solar cell prototype exhibited a photocurrent density of 10.2 mA cm−2 and a power conversion efficiency of 4.40% based solar cells, which is higher than that of N3-sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays (N3-TNAs) (8.5 mA cm−2 and 3.64%) under AM 1.5 light irradiation.