Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Nanostructured Thin Films of Titanium Dioxide

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%.

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.


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.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 171054 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Llanos ◽  
I. Brito ◽  
D. Espinoza ◽  
Ramkumar Sekar ◽  
P. Manidurai

Y 1.86 Eu 0.14 WO 6 phosphors were prepared using a solid-state reaction method. Their optical properties were analysed, and they was mixed with TiO 2 , sintered, and used as a photoelectrode (PE) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The as-prepared photoelectrode was characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray diffraction. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSC with TiO 2 :Y 1.86 Eu 0.14 WO 6 (100:2.5) was 25.8% higher than that of a DSCC using pure TiO 2 as PE. This high efficiency is due to the ability of the luminescent material to convert ultraviolet radiation from the sun to visible radiation, thus improving the solar light harvesting of the DSSC.


2014 ◽  
Vol 953-954 ◽  
pp. 1095-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Ya Han Wu ◽  
Fang Xue ◽  
Meng Jun Yuan ◽  
Yan Huo ◽  
...  

The structural morphology, arrangement of the nanocrystalline particles, porosity factor, surface state, crystalline phase and specific area of photoelectrode film have great influence on photoelectric performance of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). At present, using TiO2 as the photoelectrode in the DSSC material has achieved very good photoelectric conversion efficiency. In this paper, the plating method is adopted to directly deposited the titanium coating on the conductive glass substrate, oxidizing the surface of titanium film, so that it is generated on the surface of titanium dioxide oxidation layer. Making it as the DSSC photoelectrode, obtained relative high photoelectric conversion efficiency.


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (62) ◽  
pp. 50483-50493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malihe Afrooz ◽  
Hossein Dehghani

In this study, triphenyl phosphate (TPP) is applied as an effective and inexpensive additive in the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and an increase in the photoelectric conversion efficiency is obtained of almost 24%.


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