Abstract

Highly efficient, flexible, and lightweight quantum dots (QDs) solar cells have drawn a great deal of attention for application in satellites, curved surfaces of buildings, automobiles, and wearable electronics. The QDs exhibit a quantum confinement effect in which the energy of the semiconducting nanocrystal can be tuned by controlling its shape and size, hence directly influencing the optical and electrical properties. This chapter discusses different key features of QDs, such as quantum confinement and multiple exciton generation, which can lead to the realization of efficient cost-effective state-of-the-art flexible solar cells. Different colloidal synthesis and characterization methods of QDs are also discussed. In general, the QDs surface is commonly capped by long-chain insulating molecules called ligands. But for solar cell application, the ligand needs to be replaced by short-chain molecules via the ligand-exchange method for better efficient charge transport in QDs thin film, which has also been explored. Lastly, further discussion is included about the different types of flexible QDs-based solar cells with future prospects of further improvement.