scholarly journals Facile Synthesis of ZnO@TiO2Core-Shell Nanorod Thin Films for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxu Ji ◽  
Wumei Liu ◽  
Yumin Leng ◽  
Aihua Wang

ZnO nanorod thin films grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glasses have been synthesized via facile thermal evaporation. To optimize the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we fabricated ZnO@TiO2core-shell composite by a simple dip-coating method immersed in the mixed solution of Ti(OC4H9) and ethanol. Results of solar cell testing showed that ZnO@TiO2core-shell nanorod thin films on FTO significantly increased open circuit voltage (from 0.47 V to 0.53 V), short circuit current (from 10.78 mA/cm2to 13.98 mA/cm2), and fill factor (from 51% to 55%). The photoelectric conversion efficiency (PEC) increased from 3.3% for bare ZnO DSSCs to 4.85% for ZnO@TiO2core-shell structured DSSCs. This is mainly ascribed to the improvement in light harvesting efficiency, electron transfer, and the effective suppression of charge recombination.

2004 ◽  
Vol 836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Gish ◽  
Gregory K. Kiema ◽  
Martin O. Jensen ◽  
Michael J. Brett

ABSTRACTDye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using porous thin films of TiO2. These films were deposited by electron beam evaporation and an advanced substrate motion technique called PhiSweep. PhiSweep, an extension of glancing angle deposition (GLAD), allows for greater control over the surface area of nanostructured thin films than is possible with traditional GLAD. The as-deposited films were amorphous, so the films were annealed to improve their crystal structure. The films were sensitized with a photoactive dye and implemented into a DSSC configuration as the electron collecting electrode. It was expected that the higher surface area of the films produced using the PhiSweep method would improve the cell performance compared with cells made using traditional GLAD films of TiO2. However, the performance of the cells prepared using PhiSweep films was likely hindered by higher internal resistance of the films compared to the films prepared by traditional GLAD. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye sensitized solar cells produced using the PhiSweep method was 1.5%.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanzhen Yang ◽  
Renjie Sun ◽  
Chengwu Shi ◽  
Yucheng Wu ◽  
Mei Xia

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminium iodides (HEEDAIs) and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazinium iodides (HEPIs) were synthesized, and their thermal properties were analysed. The influence of HEEDAI and HEPI onI3-/I-redox behavior in binary ionic liquid was investigated. The result revealed that HEEDAI can suppress the recombination betweenI3-and the injected electrons in TiO2conduction band and be used as the alternative of 4-tert-butylpyridine in the electrolyte of dye-sensitized solar cells. The electrolyte C, 0.15 mol⋅L−1I2, HEEDAI and MPII with mass ratio of 1 : 4, gave the short-circuit photocurrent density of 9.36 mA⋅cm−2, open-circuit photovoltage of 0.67 V, fill factor of 0.52, and the corresponding photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.24% at the illumination (air mass 1.5, 100 mW⋅cm−2, active area 0.25 cm2).


2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 906-911
Author(s):  
Zhi Qiang Hu ◽  
De Feng Huang ◽  
Xian Qing Liu ◽  
Hong Gao ◽  
Hong Shun Hao

Liquid electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was prepared by using the mixture of sulfolane and 3-methoxypropionitrile as a solvent, 4-tert-butylpyridine as an additive. The influences of sulfolane on electrolyte conductivity, photoelectric performances and the DSSCs stability were investigated. The results indicated that when the ratio of 3-methoxypropionitrile to sulfolane achieves 3:2, the cell showed the optimal photoelectric properties and stability, and the short-circuit current and photoelectric conversion efficiency achieved 7.58mA/cm2 and 2.79%, respectively.


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.


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%.


2020 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
PHITCHAPHORN KHAMMEE ◽  
YUWALEE UNPAPROM ◽  
UBONWAN SUBHASAEN ◽  
RAMESHPRABU RAMARAJ

Recently, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have concerned significant attention attributable to their material preparation process, architectural and environmental compatibility, also low cost and effective photoelectric conversion efficiency. Therefore, this study aimed to use potential plant materials for DSSC. This research presents the extraction of natural pigments from yellow cotton flowers (Cochlospermum regium). In addition, the natural pigments were revealed that outstanding advantages, including a wide absorption range (visible light), easy extraction method, safe, innocuous pigments, inexpensive, complete biodegradation and ecofriendly. Methanol was used as a solvent extraction for the yellow cotton flower. The chlorophylls and carotenoid pigments extractions were estimated by a UV-visible spectrometer. The chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and carotenoid yield were 0.719±0.061 µg/ml, 1.484±0.107 µg/ml and 7.743±0.141 µg/ml, respectively. Thus, this study results suggested that yellow cotton flowers containing reasonable amounts appealable in the DSSC production.


2012 ◽  
Vol 430-432 ◽  
pp. 631-635
Author(s):  
Shu Hong Liu ◽  
Gui Shan Liu ◽  
Xiao Yue Shen ◽  
Zhi Qiang Hu

The carbon counter electrodes for Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were deposited on FTO glass using graphite target by bipolar pulse magnetron sputtering. The effects of sputtering pressure on the structures and properties for carbon films were investigated. The carbon bond structure was analyzed by Raman spectra. The sheet resistance of carbon film was detected by four-probe tester. The transmittance was tested by UV-visible spectrum. The performance of DSSCs was tested by solar simulator after the cells assembled. The results indicated that the ratio of ID/IG reduced, the degree of graphitization decreased, sheet resistance raised, transmittance increased and photoelectric conversion efficiency reduced with the increasing of sputtering pressure.


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