scholarly journals Synthesis and Characterization of a Photoelectrode with a Novel 3D Structure for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kun-Ching Cho ◽  
Ho Chang ◽  
Tien-Li Chen ◽  
Chung-Yi Wu

This study designs a novel dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) in which the photoanode is derived from its three-dimensional (3D) structure. The inside of the cell has a positive illumination structure, with the purposes of increasing the area of photoelectrode thin film and of increasing the illuminated area within a fixed area in order to achieve the objective of enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of cell. For the cell structure experiment, the study uses graphite paper, carbon and platinum as counter electrode materials, and then conducts measurement with cell heights of 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm. The electrolyte used is a gel polymer electrolyte. The assembly of the cell is divided into vertical assembly, inclined assembly, and tandem assembly. In the 3D tandem cell experiment, the counter electrode material is platinum. Experimental results show that when cell height is 7 mm and illuminated area is 0.28 cm2, open-loop voltage is 0.662 V, short-circuit current density is 18.42 mA/cm2, fill factor is 0.31, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is 3.85%, which is 1.65 times that under vertical assembly (2.34%) and 2.15 times that of the flat cell (1.79%).

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 1545-1548
Author(s):  
Yan Xiang Wang ◽  
Bing Xin Zhao ◽  
Jian Sun

In this paper, pure ZnO nanospheres and IO3- ions doped ZnO nanospheres were prepared by heating under reflux with zinc acetate and diethylene glycol as raw materials, and the ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) were prepared. The influences of reaction time and IO3--ions dope on ZnO properties were studied. DSCs properties prepared with obtained ZnO nanospheres were investied. ZnO nanospheres were characterized by XRD, SEM and infrared absorption spectrogram. The results showed that when the temperature was 160°C, ZnO nanospheres with diameter 100-800nm were obtained. When reaction time was 2h, ZnO diameter was about 500nm. When the reaction time was 24h, the diameter of ZnO was about 800nm with wider distribution. The ZnO DSCs were prepared by using ZnO nanopowders with different reaction time as photoanode. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of 24h-ZnO DSCs was the highest. The photoelectric conversion efficiency, open circuit voltage, short-circuit current and fill factor were 2.15%, 0.64V, 6.47 mA•cm-2, 0.52, respectively.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 3103
Author(s):  
Jia-Wun Li ◽  
Yu-Sheng Chen ◽  
Yan-Feng Chen ◽  
Jian-Xun Chen ◽  
Chung-Feng Jeffrey Kuo ◽  
...  

In this study, polymer-assisted dispersants are used to stabilize the nanohybrids of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through non-covalent bond forces. These dispersants aim to replace the florine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass in traditional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as counter electrodes. The large specific surface area, high conductivity, and redox potential of PtNPs/CNT nanohybrids are used as the basis to utilize them as the counter electrode material to fabricate a dye-sensitized solar cell. The conductivity results indicate that the resistance of the PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film can be reduced to 7.25 Ω/sq. When carbon nanotubes are mixed with platinum nanoparticles at a weight ratio of 5/1, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSCs can reach 6.28%. When using the FTO-containing substrate as the counter electrode, its conversion efficiency indicates that the micro-/nano-hybrid material formed by PtNPs/CNTs also exhibits an excellent photoelectric conversion efficiency (8.45%) on the traditional FTO substrate. Further, a large-area dye-sensitive cell is fabricated, showing that an 8 cm × 8 cm cell has a conversion efficiency of 7.95%. Therefore, the traditional Pt counter electrode can be replaced with a PtNP/CNT nanohybrid film, which both provides dye-sensitive cells with a high photoelectric conversion efficiency and reduces costs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 602-603 ◽  
pp. 884-887
Author(s):  
Hui Xia Cao ◽  
Ze Zhou ◽  
Xiao Di Li ◽  
Bo Yu Wang ◽  
Yu Lin Zhang ◽  
...  

In order to improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), the photoanode process conditions were optimized in this work. The effects on photoelectric conversion efficiency of three methods were mainly investigated, including magnetron sputtering barrier layer, printing scattering layer and post-treatment with TiCl4. The microstructure of TiO2thin films was measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that porous photoanode benefited to electronic transmission. The photoelectric conversion efficiency and performance of DSSC were measured by I-V testing instrument. The results indicated that the short circuit current and photoelectric conversion efficiency were improved. Finally, the best result was obtained by combining the three optimal conditions. A high photoelectric conversion efficiency of 7.31% was achieved under illumination of simulated AM 1.5 sunlight (100mW/cm2). Compared to the previous result of 5.48%, the improvement of 33.4% was achieved.


2011 ◽  
Vol 399-401 ◽  
pp. 1399-1402
Author(s):  
Yong De Hao ◽  
Sheng Sheng Song

The influence from the dense film coverings generated during the post treatment of TiCl4on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated in the present paper. The effect of TiCl4treatment can be concluded into the following two points: 1. Covering TiO2nanoparticles with dense films and protecting the active Ti3+can enhance the electron transport. 2. The dense TiO2 is an ideal conducting film to cover the neck of nanoparticles, reduce the electron scattering and strengthen the electron transport. Acceleration of the electron transport can increase the short circuit current of the DSSCs as to obtain higher photoelectric conversion efficiency.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le-Yan Shi ◽  
Tien-Li Chen ◽  
Chih-Hao Chen ◽  
Kun-Ching Cho

This study intends to develop the electrolyte needed in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Moreover, three different ionic liquids in different molalities are added to the gel-type electrolyte. Experimental results show that the DSSC composed of the gel-type electrolyte with no ionic liquid added can acquire 4.13% photoelectric conversion efficiency. However, the DSSC composed of the gel-type electrolyte with 0.4 M of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride added has an open-circuit voltage of 810 mV, a short-circuit current density of 9.56 mA/cm2, and photoelectric conversion efficiency reaching 4.89%. Comparing this DSSC with the DSSC with no ionic liquid added, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can be enhanced by 18.4%. As to durability, the DSSC composed of the gel-type electrolyte with ionic liquid added still has a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.28% on the 7th day after it is stored in an enclosed space and maintains 0.72% efficiency on the 14th day. When the proposed DSSC is compared with the DSSC prepared by using a liquid-type electrolyte, the durability of its photoelectric conversion efficiency can be increased by 7 times.


2011 ◽  
Vol 415-417 ◽  
pp. 1764-1768
Author(s):  
Lin Liu ◽  
Xiao Peng ◽  
Xiang Mei Yu ◽  
Ya Qing Feng

The critical material of photo-anode, the TiO2nano-particles, as the most important component in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was studied in this paper. The TiO2nanoparticles were prepared by the method of micro-emulsion. In the process of preparation, the factors including the kinds of surfactant, and the molar ratio of water to titanium (R value) were investigated. Finally, the optimal condition for the preparation of the TiO2nano-particles was determined. When Tx-100 was used as the surfactant and R was 35, the TiO2nano-particles were prepared and used as photo-anode in the DSSCs, which were sensitized by N719, test under AM1.5G sunlight. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency was achieved: Short-circuit photocurrent (Isc) =13.91mA/cm2, open-circuit photo voltage (Voc) =0.83V, fill factor (FF) =55.06%, photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) =6.36%.


Nanoscale ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (23) ◽  
pp. 14433-14440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-qi Guo ◽  
Tian-zeng Jing ◽  
Xiao Zhang ◽  
Xiao-bing Yang ◽  
Zhi-hao Yuan ◽  
...  

In this work, we report the synthesis of mesoporous Bi2S3 nanorods under hydrothermal conditions without additives, and investigated their catalytic activities as the CE in DSCs by I–V curves and tested conversion efficiency.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho Chang ◽  
Chih-Hao Chen ◽  
Mu-Jung Kao ◽  
Hsin-Han Hsiao

This paper aims to develop photoanode material required by dye-sensitized solar cells. The material prepared is in the form of Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites. This material is used to replace the titanium oxide powder commonly used in general DSSCs. The prepared Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites are mixed with Degussa P25 TiO2in different proportions. Triton X-100 is added and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 20 wt% is used as a polymer additive. This study tests the particle size and material properties of Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites and measures the photoelectric conversion efficiency and IPCE of DSSCs. Experimental results show that the DSSC prepared by Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites can achieve a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.67%. When Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites are mixed with P25 nanoparticles in specific proportions, and when the thickness of the photoelectrode thin film is 28 μm, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can reach 6.06%, with a fill factor of 0.52, open-circuit voltage of 0.64V, and short-circuit density of 18.22 mAcm−2. Compared to the DSSC prepared by P25 TiO2only, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can be raised by 38% under the proposed approach.


2012 ◽  
Vol 629 ◽  
pp. 332-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Hua Tian ◽  
Jian Xi Yao ◽  
Mi Na Guli

TiO2 films with three-dimensional web-like structure have been prepared by the photo polymerization-induced phase separation method (PIPS). Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the as-prepared TiO2 films. The results showed that the film texture could be tuned by changing the composition of the precursor solution. The TiO2 film with web-like structure exhibited high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The as-prepared films were used as the photo-anodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSCs was significantly enhanced by changing the POGTA/TTB in the precursor solution. Because of the increased dye adsorption active sites and efficient electron transport in the TiO2 anode film, a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.015% was obtained.


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