Sequential growth-controlled silver selenide nanoparticles embedded 1D-CdS nanowires: Heterostructure design to enhance power conversion efficiency.

Room temperature sequential growth namely, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method has been successfully processed towards the controlled growth of silver selenide (Ag 2 Se) nanoparticles onto one dimensional (1D) CdS nanowires (NWs) array. Well controlled size tuning enables well-aligned heterostructure yielding almost four times enhancement (0.34%) in power conversion efficiency compared to the bare CdS NWs (0.09%) in photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cell assembly. Results are well equipped through structural, surface morphological, optical and elemental oxidation state in correlation with PEC solar cell, external quantum efficiency (EQE), Mott-Schottky (M − S), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) performances. Interestingly, sequential SILAR method produces extremely conformal coverage of Ag 2 Se layer with precise thickness control. The optimum mutualistic contribution from Ag 2 Se and CdS not only broaden the light absorption range but also allows the rapid separation of excited charge carriers at heterostructure interface. • The core-shell nano heterostructure between CdS nanowires (NWs) and Ag 2 Se nanoparticles has been reported for the first time. • The utilization of a simple and inexpensive chemical route to decorate Ag 2 Se NPs onto CdS NWs with controlled particle size is considered state of the art. • Particle size optimization for CdS NWs/Ag 2 Se NPs to get four-fold enhancement in power conversion efficiency than bare CdS NWs. • Photoelectrochemical solar cell performance and external quantum efficiency were extensively conceived and confirmed using structural, morphological, elemental, optical and electrochemical impedance analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]