Improved conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell based on the porous anodic TiO2 nanotubes (original) (raw)
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Dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 nanotube/porous layer mixed morphology
Applied Physics A, 2008
Titania porous layer has been fabricated on titania nanotubes for dye sensitized solar cells and the photovoltaic performance of solar cells with mixed morphology has been investigated. The porous layer results in a similar improvement in the short circuit current density to conventional TiCl 4 treatment, although the mechanisms responsible for the observed increase in the efficiency are different. This enables further improvements of the photovoltaic performance by combining the TiCl 4 treatment and porous layer deposition, so that the efficiency in the case of ∼5 µm long tubes increases on average from ∼1.6 to ∼2.2%.
Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2012
In this paper, highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays with the tube length in a very wide range between 10 and 100 lm are quickly fabricated on Ti sheets by using a modified electrochemical anodization process, and incorporated into dye-sensitized solar cells having the back-illuminated device architecture. Results indicate that the as-prepared TiO 2 nanotube arrays have well-defined tube geometry, with a diameter around 100 nm at present conditions, and the nanotubes are in fact comprised by TiO 2 nanoparticles other than single crystals. A maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.25% for the assembled DSSC can be achieved at an optimized nanotube length of 34 lm, which is consistent with the simulated results reported previously. By using the techniques of electrochemical impedance microscopy and open-circuit voltage decay, it has been further demonstrated that the vertically oriented TiO 2 nanotube arrays work as direct electron transport paths, reduce the electron recombination, and thus enhance the electron collection efficiency, as compared to the mesoporous film based on TiO 2 nanoparticles.
The effect of dye-sensitized solar cell based on the composite layer by anodic TiO2 nanotubes
Nanoscale research letters, 2014
TiO2 nanotube arrays are very attractive for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) owing to their superior charge percolation and slower charge recombination. Highly ordered, vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays have been fabricated by a three-step anodization process. Although the use of a one-dimensional structure provides an enhanced photoelectrical performance, the smaller surface area reduces the adsorption of dye on the TiO2 surface. To overcome this problem, we investigated the effect of DSSCs constructed with a multilayer photoelectrode made of TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanotube arrays. We fabricated the novel multilayer photoelectrode via a layer-by-layer assembly process and thoroughly investigated the effect of various structures on the sample efficiency. The DSSC with a four-layer photoelectrode exhibited a maximum conversion efficiency of 7.22% because of effective electron transport and enhanced adsorption of dye on the TiO2 surface.
Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2010
Three types of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were fabricated, using as the photoanode an array of TiO 2 nanotubes (TNT) or TiO 2 nanotubes filled with TiO 2 nanoparticles (TNT-TNP, particle size 14 nm) or TiO 2 nanotubes not only filled with nanoparticles but also coated with a layer of strontium oxide (TNT-TNP-SrO). The nanotubes were obtained by electrochemical oxidation of a Ti sheet and their lengths (0.5 mm to 18.8 mm) were controlled by varying the anodization period from 0.25 to 18 h. The DSSC using titanium nanotube arrays as the photoanode (hereafter called TNT-DSSC) showed a solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (h) of 3.46%, when the anodization period was 12 h. When TNT-TNP was used as the anode, the efficiency of the DSSC (hereafter called TNT-TNP-DSSC) has increased to 4.56%. An efficiency of 5.39% was obtained when TNT-TNP-SrO was used as the photoanode for the DSSC (hereafter called TNT-TNP-SrO-DSSC). Our own dye, coded as CYC-B1 was used in all the cases. The morphologies of TNT and TNT-TNP were characterized by FE-SEM. XRD was used to characterize the TNT. Explanations on the photovoltaic performances of the DSSCs are substantiated by using electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS), incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) curves, and Mott-Schottky plots. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Schematic diagram of the DSSC, chemical structure of the CYC-B1 dye and Mott-Schottky plots analysis. See
Electrochimica Acta, 2011
We prepared highly ordered titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (TNAs) by anodizing Ti foils in F− containing electrolyte. The thickness and dye loading amount of TNAs were 26 μm and 1.06 × 10−7 mol cm−2, respectively. TiO2 nanoparticles (TNPs) were electrophoretically deposited on the inner wall of nanotube to produce coated nanotube arrays (TNAP). The dye loading was increased to 1.56 × 10−7 mol cm−2, and the electron transport rate improved. TNAs and TNAP were sensitized with ruthenium dye N3 to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells. The power conversion efficiency of TNA-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was 4.28%, whereas the efficiency of TNAP-based DSSCs increased to 6.28% when illuminated from the counter electrode. The increase of power conversion efficiency of TNAP-based DSSCs is ascribed to the increased surface area of TNAs and the faster electron transport rate.► TiO2 nanoparticles were electrophoretically deposited on TiO2 nanotube arrays. ► The charge transport rate increased after depositing TiO2 nanoparticles. ► The dye loading amount increased 47.2% after depositing TiO2 nanoparticles. ► The efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells increased from 4.28% to 6.28%.
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2014
Highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays fabricated by anodization are very attractive for dye-sensitized solar cells owing to their superior charge percolation and slower charge recombination. Highly ordered, vertically aligned TiO 2 nanotube arrays have been prepared by a three-step anodic oxidation. In this work, we considered the aforementioned strategies to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Employing one of these approaches, the use of oxide semiconductors in the form of a TiO 2 nanotube array was attempted as a novel means of improving the electron transport through the film. We fabricated a novel TiO 2 nanoparticle/TiO 2 nanotube array double-layer photoelectrode by a layer-by-layer assembly process, and we thoroughly investigated the effect of various structures on sample efficiency. Dye-sensitized solar cells with a light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of 5.48% were achieved at a simulated solar light irradiation of 100 mW/cm 2 (AM 1.5).
TiO 2 nanotube arrays and TiO 2 -nanotube-array based dye-sensitized solar cell
Chinese Science Bulletin, 2007
To substitute the non-regular nano-crystalline semiconductor for a novel kind of ordered microstructure is a very important aspect in the domain of dye-sensitized solar cell. One of the researching hotspots is the highly-ordered TiO 2 nanotube architecture. As a new type of titania nano-material, titania nanotube arrays have drawn extraordinary attention due to its distinctive morphology, notable photoelectrical and hydro-sensitive performance. At 100% sun the new kind of TiO 2 nanotube arrays solar cell exhibits an overall conversion efficiency of 5.44%. This paper introduces the preparation methods of titania nanotube arrays, the existing problems and recent progress in titania nanotube arrays solar cell.
Role of Transparent Electrodes for High Efficiency TiO 2 Nanotube Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2014
In the present work, we investigate the performance of anodic TiO 2 nanotube layers in dye-sensitized solar cells under front-and backside illumination configurations. To fabricate transparent TiO 2 nanotube electrodes, we evaporated 5 μm thick metallic Ti layers on FTO glassthen the metal layers are completely anodized to form aligned nanotube layers. We compare different types of FTO glass (conductivity and transparency) and use them for working electrodes as well as transparent platinized counter electrodes. The results show that for TiO 2 nanotube electrodes the resulting light conversion efficiency in DSSCs is highly affected by the type of glass used (efficiency rangedepending on configuration from 4.62% to 7.58%).
Different nanostructures of TiO2 play an important role in the kinetics of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and affect the overall light harvesting efficiency of the cells. This article describes that the one dimensional nanostructure of TiO2 (nanotubes) can increase the light scattering effect, light harvesting effect and electron transport in the DSSC to improve its performance. Pure anatase TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized by a hydrothermal method using commercial material (P25) due to which the manufacturing cost of the DSSC was enormously reduced. To enhance the power conversion efficiency of the DSSC, a new type of double layered photoanode was prepared and optimized by using TiO2 nanoparticles as the main layer and TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) as the over-layer. These prepared cells were analysed by optical, photovoltaic and electrochemical measurement systems. The cells having the TNT over-layer showed longer electron life time, higher BET surface area and pore volume and 40% improved light harvesting efficiency. This new and optimized structure will be concrete fundamental background towards the development of the applications of next generation dye-sensitized solar cells.