Electrical and photoelectrical measurements on ZnO-Nanowires coated with PEDOT:PSS for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Waltermann ◽  
Kay-Michael Günther ◽  
Stefan Kontermann ◽  
Siegfried R. Waldvogel ◽  
Wolfgang Schade
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Transparent Conducting Oxide ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Nanowire Array ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Zno Nanowires ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

ABSTRACTDye-sensitized solar cells composed of an n-doped ZnO nanowire array and a p-doped polymer layer appears to be a promising candidate for low-cost production of environment-friendly solar cells. In this work, we investigate hybrid devices consisting of a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate, ZnO-nanowires (ZnO-NW) or a sol-gel prepared ZnO layer, a ruthenium dye (N719) and a PEDOT:PSS or P3HT layer. The dense polycrystalline ZnO layer is able to prevent short circuits, which have a strong effect on the performance of the solar cells. This is demonstrated by the use of only the ZnO layer which improves the open circuit voltage by a factor of 2 and the efficiency by a factor of 1.7 compared to cells with nanowires. That indicates that the system combined with a thin but dense ZnO layer and NW grown on it will show further improvement. Furthermore three different TCO substrates were investigated. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) reveals at least one additional Schottky barrier formed with ZnO:Al substrates. Spectral photovoltage measurements clearly show distinct absorption features correlated with the ZnO and N719 dye.

Al-doped TiO2 Photoanode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuzhi Huang ◽  
Yi-Bing Cheng ◽  
Rachel A. Caruso
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Doping Concentration ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Tio2 Electrode ◽  
Doped Tio2 ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Porous aluminium doped TiO2 was prepared through a sol–gel process in the presence of a template. The doping enlarges the band-gap of the anatase TiO2, which modifies the TiO2 electrical properties. The porous Al/TiO2 films were assembled into dye-sensitized solar cells. A 45 mV enhancement of open-circuit photovoltage and 11% increase of fill factor at 2 wt-% doping concentration, and 8.6% improvement of the overall efficiency at 0.5 wt-% doping concentration were achieved relative to that of a cell containing non-doped TiO2 under the same conditions. This advance is attributed to the increase in conductivity with the Al-doping of the TiO2 electrode.

scholarly journals ZnO-Nanorod Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: New Structure without a Transparent Conducting Oxide Layer

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Hong Lai ◽  
Auttasit Tubtimtae ◽  
Ming-Way Lee ◽  
Gou-Jen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Transparent Conducting Oxide ◽  
Zno Nanorods ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Zno Nanorod ◽  
Zno Film ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Transparent Conducting ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Conventional nanorod-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are fabricated by growing nanorods on top of a transparent conducting oxide (TCO, typically fluorine-doped tin oxide—FTO). The heterogeneous interface between the nanorod and TCO forms a source for carrier scattering. This work reports on a new DSSC architecture without a TCO layer. The TCO-less structure consists of ZnO nanorods grown on top of a ZnO film. The ZnO film replaced FTO as the TCO layer and the ZnO nanorods served as the photoanode. The ZnO nanorod/film structure was grown by two methods: (1) one-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (2) two-step chemical bath deposition (CBD). The thicknesses of the nanorods/film grown by CVD is more uniform than that by CBD. We demonstrate that the TCO-less DSSC structure can operate properly as solar cells. The new DSSCs yield the best short-current density of 3.96 mA/ and a power conversion efficiency of 0.73% under 85 mW/ of simulated solar illumination. The open-circuit voltage of 0.80 V is markedly higher than that from conventional ZnO DSSCs.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Novel Mixed Dyes

2011 ◽  
Vol 383-390 ◽  
pp. 5510-5515
Author(s):  
Tien Tsan Hung
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Phthalocyanine Derivative ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Novel phthalocyanine derivative and azo derivative have been synthesized as photosensitizers for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We used sol-gel method to prepare the titanium oxide (TiO2) membrane electrode of the DSSCs. The crystalline phase and surface morphology of TiO2 were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to investigate the effects of processing parameters on the films characteristic, microstructure and thickness. The performance of DSSCs was characterized by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current-voltage curve analysis. The sensitizing properties of phthalocyanine derivative, azo derivative and mixed dyes were studied, and it was found that the cell consisted of mixed dyes generated the highest power conversion efficiency () of 2.3 %, short circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) of 13.6 mA cm-2, open circuit photovoltage (Voc) of 0.46 V and fill factor (FF) of 0.37 under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm-2) with a active area of 0.25 cm2.

The Preparation of ZnO Nanopowders and Dye Sensitized Solar Cells By Sol-Gel Method

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 1533-1536
Author(s):  
Yan Xiang Wang ◽  
Sun Jian ◽  
Bing Xin Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Zno Nanoparticles ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Molar Concentration ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

In this paper, ZnO nanopowders and dye sensitized solar cells were prepared by sol-gel and screen printing method, respectively. First, ZnO nanopowders were synthesized by using zinc acetate, ethanol and diethanolamined as raw materials. The effects of Zn2+ molar concentration on the microstructure and photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO nanopowders were investigated. When Zn2+molar concentration were 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M and 1.2M, ZnO nanoparticles with diameter of about 80~100nm were obtained. When Zn2+ molar concentration reached 2.4M, ZnO nanobowls consisted of nanoparticles with diameter about 80~100nm were synthesized. When Zn2+molar concentration reached 3.6M, ZnO nanoparticles were obtained, and particle size distribution of obtained ZnO nanoparticles became broader. Methyl orange degradation rate of ZnO nanopowders prepared with 0.4M, after treated by ultraviolet radiation for 8 hours, were up to 88.5%. ZnO nanopowders prepared with 1.2M and 3.6M were assembled into solar cells. The properties of the solar cell prepared with 1.2M were optimal. The short-circuit photocurrent, open-circuit photovoltage, fill factor and efficiency were 14.72 mA/cm2, 0.649V, 0.332 and 0.914%, respectively.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on a Natural Low Cost Halochromic Sensitizer

2011 ◽  
Vol 1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Ibrahim ◽  
Maria J. Bassil ◽  
Umit B. Demirci ◽  
Georges El Haj Moussa ◽  
Mario R. El Tahchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ph Effect ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Visible Range ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Vis Spectroscopy ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

ABSTRACTSince their re-introduction as new generation solar cells in 1991, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been studied extensively to improve their efficiency and their stability. Few papers have reported the usage of natural dyes in the fabrication of DSSCs. We are most interested in these dyes being easy to extract, low cost and with tunable absorption. For example, Anthocyanin is extracted from red cabbage and is present in a multitude of colors ranging from red to yellow to violet according to the pH. In this study, two industrial types of titanium dioxide powders, the Degussa P 25 and the Crystal 128 with different particle sizes 21 and 200 nm respectively, were used to prepare DSSCs. The dye used is anthocyanin and its color is varied by varying the pH of the medium. The pH effect on the light absorption of anthocyanin in the visible range and the optical properties of titanium dioxide dyed with anthocyanin and coumarin 102 are investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The open-circuit voltage of all the samples is tested and it if found out that it is dependant on the dye color.

Synthesis and Characterization of Zno Nanoparticles Using Hydrothermal and Sol-Gel Techniques for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 256-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Musleh ◽  
N. AlDahoudi ◽  
H. Zayed ◽  
S. Shaat ◽  
H. M. Tamous ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Zno Nanoparticles ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Zinc Acetate Dihydrate ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Eosin Y ◽  
Zno Nps ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized using hydrothermal and sol-gel techniques using zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn (CH3COO)2.2H2O) as a row material and methanol as a solvent. The structural properties of ZnO NPs were studied using EDX, XRD, TEM, and the optical properties were characterized using UV-VIS and PL spectroscopies. The synthesized ZnO NPs showed high purity and revealed a wurtzite (hexagonal) crystal structure with particle size (D) ranged from 25 nm to 28 nm. The UV-VIS absorption spectra of ZnO NPs samples and sensitizing dyes were performed. The obtained ZnO NPs exhibited the direct optical bandgap 3.15 eV. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using synthesized ZnO NPs as a semiconducting layer, which was dyed with different low cost dyes such as Eosin B (EB), Eosin Y (EY) and Rhodamine B (RB) that was used to sensitize the photoanode (ZnO NPs). The experimental results showed a significant efficiency for the fabricated DSSCs of synthesized ZnO NPs via sol gel technique comparing to hydrothermal technique. The EY dye exhibited the best performance among others, where a conversion efficiency showed a noteworthy improvement from 0.12 to 1.08 %.

scholarly journals Henna (Lawsonia inermisL.) Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline Titania Solar Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalil Ebrahim Jasim ◽  
Shawqi Al-Dallal ◽  
Awatif M. Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Low-cost solar cells have been the subject of intensive research activities for over half century ago. More recently, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerged as a new class of low-cost solar cells that can be easily prepared. Natural-dye-sensitized solar cells (NDSSCs) are shown to be excellent examples of mimicking photosynthesis. The NDSSC acts as a green energy generator in which dyes molecules adsorbed to nanocrystalline layer of wide bandgap semiconductor material harvest photons. In this paper we investigate the structural, optical, electrical, and photovoltaic characterization of two types of natural dyes, namely, the Bahraini Henna and the Yemeni Henna, extracted using the Soxhlet extractor. Solar cells from both materials were prepared and characterized. It was found that the levels of open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are concentration dependent. Further suggestions to improve the efficiency of NDSSC are discussed.

Synthesis of TiO2 Nanopowders and their Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

2010 ◽  
Vol 663-665 ◽  
pp. 848-851
Author(s):  
Jian Sun ◽  
Yan Xiang Wang ◽  
Min Xu ◽  
Ting Li Ma ◽  
Xue Yun Fan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Tio2 Nanopowders

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are currently attracting widespread interest for the conversion of sunlight into electricity because of their low cost and high efficiency. In these cells, photo-anode is one of the key components for high power conversion efficiencies. In this paper, TiO2 nanopowders were prepared by the non-hydrolytic sol-gel method using TiCl4 as precursor, absolute ethanol and isopropanol as oxygen donor. Several different TiO2 nanopowders were used to fabricate TiO2 solar cells, and properties of TiO2 solar cells were characterized. The solar cell prepared with grainsize 50~80nm TiO2 nanopowders generated a short-circuit photocurrent of 13.17 mA/cm2, an open-circuit photovoltage of 789 mV, a fill factor of 69.8% and the efficiency of 7.25% under the light intensity of 100 mW/cm2.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Nanocrystalline Titania Electrodes Made at Various Sintering Temperatures

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 555-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Stathatos ◽  
Panagiotis Lianos
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Reaction Medium ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Nanocrystalline Titania ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells were made by using nanocrystalline titania deposited on Fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO) electrodes. Nanocrystalline titania deposition was made by the sol–gel method using reverse micelles of bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) in cyclohexane as reaction medium. This surfactant could be easily removed from the deposited nanocomposite organic-inorganic film by simple rinsing with distilled water, without affecting titania adherence on FTO electrode. These nanocrystalline titania electrodes were used to make solar cells either without sintering or after sintering at various temperatures. Sintering extensively affected short circuit current but had small effect on device open-circuit voltage. Thus satisfactory photovoltaic response could be obtained even with devices made of non-sintered (room-temperature) titania.

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