A novel PbS/TiO2 composite counter electrode for CdS quantum dot sensitized ZnO nanorods solar cells
Abstract A series of novel PbS/TiO 2 nanotubes was fabricated as counter electrodes (CEs) through a combination of anodic oxidation and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction methods. The photovoltaic conversion efficiency of ZnO nanorods sensitized with CdS quantum dots using the optimized PbS(6)/TiO 2 CE increased by nearly 440.8% and 227.5% compared with the efficiency of nanorods using planar Pt and bare TiO 2 CE, respectively. Thus, the novel PbS/TiO 2 composite CE was a promising catalytic electrode with excellent electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of charge carriers in polysulfide electrolyte.