Fabrication of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/CdS/ZnO Core–Shell Nanotube Array for Semiconductor-Sensitized Solar Cell

Abstract

In this article, we designed and fabricated a novel semiconductor-sensitized solar cell using a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/CdS/ZnO core–shell nanotube array as the photoanode. A facile sequent electrodeposition process was employed to prepare the photoanode. The one-dimensional three-component core–shell ordered nanoarray structure was formed by electrodepositing CdS nanoparticles and a thin P3HT layer onto the walls of ZnO nanotubes, which enhanced the optical absorption in the visible region and presented an interface between n-type CdS and p-type P3HT to improve the charge separation. An energy conversion efficiency up to 1.28% was obtained with the designed nanostructured solar cell based on the P3HT/CdS/ZnO nanotube array.