Photoanode modification of dye-sensitized solar cells with Ag/AgBr/TiO2 nanocomposite for enhanced cell efficiency

Cotton Fabrics ◽

Natural Dye ◽

Natural Dyes ◽

Oxide Surface ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

This article will discuss natural dyes’ role, from colouring the cotton fabrics with some functionality to harvesting sunlight in the dye-sensitized solar cells. Natural dye colourants are identical to the low light- and wash-fastness. Therefore, an approach to improving the colourant’s physical properties is necessary. Colouring steps employing silica nanosol and chitosan will be presented. The first part will be these multifunctional natural dye coatings on cotton fabrics. Then, functionality such as hydrophobic surfaces natural dyed cotton fabrics will be discussed. Natural dyes are also potential for electronic application, such as solar cells. So, the second part will present natural dyes as the photosensitizers for solar cells. The dyes are adsorbed on a semiconductor oxide surface, such as TiO2 as the photoanode. Electrochemical study to explore natural dyes’ potential as sensitizer will be discussed, for example, natural dyes for Batik. Ideas in improving solar cell efficiency will be discussed by altering the photoanode’s morphology. The ideas to couple the natural dyes with an organic–inorganic hybrid of perovskite and carbon dots are then envisaged.

Comparative Study of Characteristics of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Fabricated Using Substrates Coated with Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide and Titanium

Journal of the Institute of Engineering ◽

10.3126/jie.v15i3.32184 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 216-221

Author(s):

Arbin Maharjan

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Tin Oxide ◽

Fill Factor ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Coated Glass ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Glass Substrates ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted many researchers because it has potential to supplement and compete with other solar cell technologies like Silicon (Si) and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe). The fabrication of DSSCs requires a photo electrode and a counter electrode of transparent and conducting nature. The commercial DSSCs uses electrodes of fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. These electrodes are expensive and hence, possible alternative materials that are cheaper and that would provide better performance under similar environmental condition should be explored. In this paper, titanium (Ti)-coated glass substrates were prepared and then used to prepare electrodes for fabricating DSSCs. Similarly, DSSCs were fabricated using electrodes of conventional FTO-coated glass substrates. Performance characteristics like cell efficiency (η%), fill-factor (FF), short circuit current density (JSC) and open circuit voltage (VOC) of both fabricated DSSCs were obtained using their respective J-V characteristic curves under similar illumination of 100 mW/cm2 and with comparable transmittance under the visible transmission spectrum of 300-850 nm. The obtained results showed that DSSCs prepared using electrodes of FTO coated glass substrates have 1.557 times better cell efficiency and 2.172 times better fill factor than that of DSSCs fabricated using electrodes of Ti-coated glass substrates.

Simulation, Analysis, and Characterization of Calcium-Doped ZnO Nanostructures for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13184863 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (18) ◽

pp. 4863

Author(s):

Shahzadi Tayyaba ◽

Muhammad Waseem Ashraf ◽

Muhammad Imran Tariq ◽

Maham Akhlaq ◽

Valentina Emilia Balas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Optical Band Gap ◽

Simulation Analysis ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Doped Zno ◽

In this research article, the authors have discussed the simulation, analysis, and characterization of calcium-doped zinc oxide (Ca-doped-ZnO) nanostructures for advanced generation solar cells. A comparative study has been performed to envisage the effect of Ca-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NP), seeded Ca-doped ZnO nanorods (NR), and unseeded Ca-doped ZnO NR as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. Simulations were performed in MATLAB fuzzy logic controller to study the effect of various structures on the overall solar cell efficiency. The simulation results show an error of less than 1% in between the simulated and calculated values. This work shows that the diameter of the seeded Ca-doped ZnO NR is greater than that of the unseeded Ca-doped ZnO NR. The incorporation of Ca in the ZnO nanostructure is confirmed using XRD graphs and an EDX spectrum. The optical band gap of the seeded substrate is 3.18 eV, which is higher compared to those of unseeded Ca-doped ZnO NR and Ca-doped ZnO NP, which are 3.16 eV and 3.13 ev, respectively. The increase in optical band gap results in the improvement of the overall solar cell efficiency of the seeded Ca-doped ZnO NR to 1.55%. The incorporation of a seed layer with Ca-doped ZnO NR increases the fill factor and the overall efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC).

Guest-Host Interactions in Symmetrical Carboxy Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes-Titanium Dioxide Systems: Synthesis, Theoretical Calculations, Aggregation Properties, and Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2021/8852979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Rodrigo da Costa Duarte ◽

Matheus Costa de Oliveira ◽

Josene Maria Toldo ◽

Paulo Fernando Bruno Gonçalves ◽

Marcos José Leite Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Active Sites ◽

Theoretical Calculations ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Fluorescence Emission ◽

Cyanine Dyes ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

In this work, the role of deoxycholic acid (DCA) as a coadsorbent was investigated in the sensitization of mesoporous TiO2 layers (host) with symmetrical carboxy heptamethine cyanine dyes (guest). Different approaches have been tested, aimed at reducing the H-aggregation and minimizing the competition between cyanine molecules and DCA for active sites of the host, thus improving solar cell efficiency. Heptamethine cyanines containing carboxylic anchoring groups were obtained with good yields. The cyanines present UV-Vis absorption in methanol and dimethylformamide solutions ascribed to fully allowed electronic transitions ( 1 π π ∗ ), as well as fluorescence emission in the NIR region, with any evidence of aggregations in both ground and excited states. TD-DFT calculations were also performed in order to study the geometry and charge distribution of these compounds in their ground and excited electronic states. Solid-state photophysics indicates that the cyanines showed excellent adsorption on TiO2, which can be justified by the presence of the -COOH moieties in the structure. Photophysical measurements have revealed the best concentrations of dye and DCA, which resulted in efficient inhibition of cyanine H-aggregates on the TiO2 surface in addition to allow large dye loading. HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the dyes were identified by cyclic voltammetry, showing oxidation and reduction potentials within acceptable limits for application as a photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on a TiO2 mesoporous photoanode. Assembled DSSCs have shown a large improvement of the electrical parameters and efficiency when a balance between dye aggregation and the competition to the host active sites was reached.

Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Coated with Conducting Polyaniline Nanocomposites for Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1155/2013/962387 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohammad Rezaul Karim ◽

Ashraful Islam ◽

M. D. Akhtaruzzaman ◽

Liyuan Han ◽

Abdurahman Al-Ahmari

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Solid State ◽

Multiwall Carbon Nanotube ◽

Multiwalled Carbon ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Conducting Polyaniline ◽

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) coated with conducting polyaniline (PAni) nanocomposites has been enforced as for quasi-solid-state electrolyte layer in the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the incorporation of MWNT-PAni nanoparticles on the cell performance has been examined. The MWNT-PAni nanoparticles exploited as the extended electron transfer materials, which can reduce charge diffusion length and serve simultaneously as catalyst for the electrochemical reduction ofI3-. An ionic liquid of 1-methyl-3-propyl-imidazolium iodide (PMII) together with the hybrid MWNT-PAni nanocomposites was placed between the dye-sensitized porous TiO2and the Pt counter electrode without adding iodine and achieved a moderately higher cell efficiency (3.15%), as compared to that containing bare PMII (0.26%).

Dye-sensitized solar cells using fluorone-based ionic liquids with improved cell efficiency

Sustainable Energy & Fuels ◽

10.1039/c9se00783k ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (12) ◽

pp. 3510-3517 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ana L. Pinto ◽

A. Jorge Parola ◽

João P. Leal ◽

Isabel B. Coutinho ◽

Cláudia C. L. Pereira

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Ionic Liquids ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid ◽

Highly Hydrophobic ◽

TiO2 and [P6,6,6,14]2 fluorone highly hydrophobic ionic liquid dye.

Triarylamine-based hydrido-carboxylate rhenium(i) complexes as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c9cp00856j ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (14) ◽

pp. 7534-7543 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lorenzo Veronese ◽

Elsa Quartapelle Procopio ◽

Thomas Moehl ◽

Monica Panigati ◽

Kazuteru Nonomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Molecular Design ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Improved Performance ◽

First Time ◽

We report dinuclear hydrido-carbonyl rhenium complexes employed in DSSCs for the first time. An improved performance in solar cell efficiency was achieved by molecular design.

Preparation of Nanoporous TiO2Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2011/547103 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hsiue-Hsyan Wang ◽

Chaochin Su ◽

Huei-Siou Chen ◽

Yi-Cheng Liu ◽

Yi-Wen Hsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Film Thickness ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Hydrothermal Processes ◽

Phase Pure ◽

Electron Conversion ◽

Nano-porousTiO2thin films have been widely used as the working electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this work, the phase-pure anataseTiO2(a-TiO2) and rutileTiO2(r-TiO2) have been prepared using hydrothermal processes. The investigation of photo-to-electron conversion efficiency of DSSCs fabricated from mixed-TiO2with a-TiO2and r-TiO2ratio of 80 : 20 (A8R2) was performed and compared to that from commercialTiO2(DP-25). The results showed higher efficiency of DSSC for A8R2 cells with same dependence of cell efficiency on the film thickness for both A8R2 and DP-25 cells. The best efficiency obtained in this work is 5.2% from A8R2 cell withTiO2film thickness of 12.0 μm. The correlation between theTiO2films thickness and photoelectron chemical properties of DSSCs fabricated from A8R2 and DP-25 was compared and discussed.

Assessment of Ruthenium Dye N719 Adsorption Kinetics in Mesoporous TiO2 Films of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells via Nanoplasmonic Sensing

Journal of Nanotechnology ◽

10.1155/2018/9808697 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Fahd M. Rajab

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Dye Adsorption ◽

Semiconductor Surface ◽

Device Performance ◽

Solar Cell Efficiency ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Vis Spectroscopy ◽

A dye monolayer formation on a semiconductor surface is critical for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. The role of dye is to absorb light and convert it to photoelectrons, which are injected into the semiconductor conduction band as device current. We measured dye N719 adsorption via optical techniques including indirect nanoplasmonic sensing. The adsorption rate constant of dye N719 in mimic TiO2 photoelectrodes is determined as ka = 983 M−1 s−1. Dye adsorption for ruthenium dyes N3, N749, and Z907, coated onto TiO2 photoelectrodes of varying thicknesses ranging from 3 μm to 10 μm, was conducted and related to fabricated dye-sensitized solar cell efficiency. Analytical studies included scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry, X-ray diffraction, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, as well as quantum efficiency and current-voltage device characterizations. The results show greatest enhancement of device performance for dye N719 in spite of multilayer formation, which often is underestimated when addressing the dynamic competing factors that reverse thick-film device performance.

Synthesis of N749 Dimer and its Application in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1096.477 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1096 ◽

pp. 477-480

Author(s):

Xue Liu ◽

Lei Jiang ◽

Lei Sun ◽

Chao Feng Du ◽

Wei Qiao Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Simulated Sunlight ◽

Sunlight Irradiation ◽

Cell Efficiency ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Basic Hydrolysis ◽

Ruthenium Dyes ◽

Dye-sensitized solar cells are attracted much interest in the fields of clean energy. In this work, a novel ruthenium terpyridine dimeric complex (N749 dimer) was designed and synthesized through the coordination of 4,4',4"-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine with ruthenium trichloride, bridging with 4,4'-bipyridine and basic hydrolysis. The calculated and experimental UV-vis absorption spectrums for N749 dimer were compared to those of the commercial black dye N749. The results showed that N749 dimer exhibits wider spectrum absorption range and higher molar extinction coefficient. Dye sensitized solar cells were fabricated based on the N749 dimer. The cell efficiency could reach 2.9% battery efficiency under simulated sunlight irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 power AM1.5G ruthenium. The results provide a new direction for designing the ruthenium dyes.