Photosensitization of multiwalled carbon nanotube scaffolds with ZnO quantum dots for photovoltaic applications

In this article, we have decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) scaffold with ZnO quantum dots (QDs, size in the range of 2.9-4.5 nm) and investigated their prospects for photovoltaic applications. ZnO QDs, in the present study, work as photosensitizer instead of electron transporting media as used in recent conventional strategic solar cells. ZnO QDs/MWCNTs composite shows an increased visible absorbance and quenching of the broad visible emission at around ∼560 nm, while only ZnO QDs exhibit a strong visible emission. An efficient electron-hole separation facilitates an increase in the short-circuit current. These results show a possibility of developing a nontoxic, ZnO QDs sensitized MWCNTs composite-based photovoltaic solar cell.