Enhancing organic solar cell efficiency through green synthesis of carbon quantum dots from siam plant extracts

Abstract

Nanotechnology has in recent time, enhanced the efficiency and reduced the cost of solar cells for the development of large-scale electrical energy. Researches have revealed that organic based-solar cells persist the most suitable candidate for energy conversion devices; however, their low alteration effectiveness is still a main challenge. Quantum dots (QDs) possesses the ability to absorb shorter wavelength radiations, which further attracted investigation on quantum dots. Among the QDs, carbon quantum dot has shown remarkable results as a semiconductor. It is cheap and non-toxic material. In this study, we have reported the green synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQD) by hydrothermal synthesis method using the extract of Siam plant extract as stabilizing agent. The synthesized CQD were characterized using High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X –ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD. The average particle size was found to be (49.0 nm) and the optical band gap as (3.3 eV). Furthermore, the CQD was incorporated to poly (3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) polymer, and its electrical characteristics were examined using four-point probe. The synthesized CQD is recommended to be use as modified buffer layer for the enhancement of polymer solar cells.