Synthesis of Polyaniline/Cadmium Sulfide Hybrid Nanocomposites via a One-Pot Process: Morphology Control for Improvement of Photovoltaic Performance AITranslate

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DOI：https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c01621

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In this work, the one-pot process was employed to synthesize polyaniline/cadmium sulfide hybrid nanocomposite. Herein, for the first time, we report a comprehensive study from the synthesis of the raw materials to the photovoltaic cell performance investigation including the synthesis of the polyaniline/cadmium sulfide hybrid nanocomposite through a one-pot process, a morphology study, the fabrication of a hybrid organic/inorganic solar cell, and the evaluation of the cell performance. To this end, the CdS-to-PANI weight ratio was considered as a key parameter, and 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40% were used as the CdS values. FTIR, XRD, and FESEM analyses confirmed that the presence of CdS in the PANI nanotubular network affected the morphology of the hybrid nanocomposite, and changing the CdS-to-PANI ratio tuned the nanotubular network morphology from coarse to fine. UV–visible absorption spectrum studies validated the reduction of PANI bandgap due to the presence of CdS. Likewise, the conductivity of the nanocomposites was also improved compared to neat PANI due to the increasing of charge density. These controlled-morphology nanocomposites were used for organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells based on the configuration of the FTO/ZnO/CdS@PANI/Ag device, and the morphology effects on their performance were investigated. When CdS was incorporated in the PANI nanotubular network, JSC and efficiency increased by, respectively, 4.471 mA·cm–1 and 1.87%. This means a 22-fold increase in JSC and a 1700-fold increase in the solar cell based on 20%CdS@PANI compared to those in the solar cell made with pure PANI. In short, by using the one-pot process, it is possible to hierarchically ensure better control of the morphology of organic and inorganic components, increasing the light absorption edge, reducing the bandgap, and improving the photovoltaic performance of CdS@PANI organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites.