A Phosphonic Acid Anchoring Analogue of the Sensitizer P1 for p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We report the synthesis and characterization of the first example of an organic dye, PP1, for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) bearing a phosphonic acid anchoring group. PP1 is structurally related to the benchmarking dye, P1, which possesses a carboxylic acid anchor. The solution absorption spectra of PP1 and P1 are similar (PP1 has λmax = 478 nm and εmax = 62,800 dm3 mol−1 cm−1), as are the solid-state absorption spectra of the dyes adsorbed on FTO/NiO electrodes. p-Type DSCs with NiO as semiconductor and sensitized with P1 or PP1 perform comparably. For PP1, short-circuit current densities (JSC) and open-circuit voltages (VOC) for five DSCs lie between 1.11 and 1.45 mA cm−2, and 119 and 143 mV, respectively, compared to ranges of 1.55–1.80 mA cm−2 and 117–130 mV for P1. Photoconversion efficiencies with PP1 are in the range 0.054–0.069%, compared to 0.065–0.079% for P1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, open-circuit photovoltage decay and intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy have been used to compare DSCs with P1 and PP1 in detail.

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Lindqvist polyoxometalates as electrolytes in p-type dye sensitized solar cells

Sustainable Energy & Fuels ◽

10.1039/c8se00495a ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 96-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tijmen M. A. Bakker ◽

Simon Mathew ◽

Joost N. H. Reek

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Power Conversion Efficiency ◽

Open Circuit Voltage ◽

Power Conversion ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Redox Couples ◽

P Type ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

The development of new redox couples provides a clear strategy to improve power conversion efficiency (PCE) in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (p-DSSCs) through enabling improvements in open-circuit voltage (VOC).

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There Is a Future for N-Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(II) Dyes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Improving Performance through Changes in the Electrolyte

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma12244181 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (24) ◽

pp. 4181 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mariia Karpacheva ◽

Vanessa Wyss ◽

Catherine E. Housecroft ◽

Edwin C. Constable

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Alkyl Chain ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Ion Concentration ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

By systematic tuning of the components of the electrolyte, the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with an N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye have been significantly improved. The beneficial effects of an increased Li+ ion concentration in the electrolyte lead to photoconversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to 0.66% for fully masked cells (representing 11.8% relative to 100% set for N719) and an external quantum efficiency maximum (EQEmax) up to approximately 25% due to an increased short-circuit current density (JSC). A study of the effects of varying the length of the alkyl chain in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ionic liquids (ILs) shows that a longer chain results in an increase in JSC with an overall efficiency up to 0.61% (10.9% relative to N719 set at 100%) on going from n-methyl to n-butyl chain, although an n-hexyl chain leads to no further gain in PCE. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) support the trends in JSC and open-circuit voltage (VOC) parameters. A change in the counterion from I− to [BF4]− for 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide ionic liquid leads to DSCs with a remarkably high JSC value for an N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) dye of 4.90 mA cm−2, but a low VOC of 244 mV. Our investigations have shown that an increased concentration of Li+ in combination with an optimized alkyl chain length in the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide IL in the electrolyte leads to iron(II)-sensitized DSC performances comparable with those of containing some copper(I)-based dyes.

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Influence of Electrolyte Refreshing on the Photoelectrochemical Performance of Fiber-Shaped Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2012/104597 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Zhibin Lv ◽

Hongwei Wu ◽

Xin Cai ◽

Yongping Fu ◽

Dan Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Photocurrent Density ◽

Vital Role ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Electron Recombination ◽

Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Given the convenient sealing of fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (FDSSCs), the electrolyte refreshing effect on the photo-electrochemical performance of FDSSCs was studied. The electron transport and interfacial recombination kinetics were also systematically investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. With increased electrolyte refreshing times from 0 to 10, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) increased, whereas the photocurrent density (Jsc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) significantly decreased. The increasedVocwas mainly ascribed to the electron recombination resistance (Rct, WE) at the TiO2/electrolyte interface and electron lifetime. The decreasedJscand PCE were due to dye desorption and the increase of series resistance. Further investigation proved that Li+played a vital role in increasingVocas electrolyte refreshing and Li+had more significant impact than TBP (tert-butyl pyridine) on maintaining highVoc.

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ZnO/TiO2 composite photoanodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Functional Materials Letters ◽

10.1142/s1793604714500398 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 07 (04) ◽

pp. 1450039 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Liqing Zhang ◽

Shuai Zhou ◽

Fengshi Cai ◽

Zhihao Yuan

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Solar Cells ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Hydrothermal Process ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Growth Time ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

ZnO / TiO 2 composite films composed of a ZnO nanoflowers overlayer and a ZnO / TiO 2 composite particulate underlayer were fabricated by a simple hydrothermal process. The as-prepared films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and diffused reflectance spectroscopy. The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was investigated by photocurrent–voltage measurements, incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the ZnO / TiO 2 composite film prepared with a 60 min growth time exhibited higher reflectivity than that of pure TiO 2 film due to the effective light-scattering of ZnO nanoflowers, resulting in increased J sc . In the meantime, the open-circuit potential of the device were enhanced from 698 to 826 mV due to the formation of an energy barrier by ZnO at TiO 2/electrolyte interface, resulting in a 52% improvement in the power conversion efficiency from 4.64 to 7.06%.

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Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Novel Mixed Dyes

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.383-390.5510 ◽

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.

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Study on the Change in Photovoltage by Control of Cell Gap in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4001151 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 132 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chaehyeon Lee ◽

Weekyung Kang ◽

Min Jae Ko ◽

Kyoungkon Kim ◽

Nam-Gyu Park

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Electrolyte System ◽

Counter Electrodes ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Transient Photovoltage ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Photo-electrochemical properties of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were investigated by changing the gap between working and counter electrodes. The open-circuit voltage (VOC) of DSSCs was significantly increased from 616 mV to 776 mV by about 26% with 1-methyl-3-butyl imidazolium iodide (BMII) based electrolyte and from 428 mV to 513 mV by 20% with lithium iodide (LiI) based electrolyte as the cell gap increased from 16 μm to 224 μm. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it was found that the resistance of the electrolyte was increased as the cell gap widened. This resulted in the reduction in the dark current associated with the VOC enhancement. The transient photovoltage spectroscopic measurement confirmed that the time constant for charge recombination between TiO2 and electrolyte became slower as the cell gap of the DSSC with LiI electrolyte increased, which could be an additional reason for the VOC enhancement. The optimal cell gap was determined to be around 31.3 μm for the BMII electrolyte system, and around 75.5 μm for the LiI electrolyte system in terms of the energy-conversion efficiency.

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Control of morphology and defect density in zinc oxide for improved dye-sensitized solar cells

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c6cp04204j ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (44) ◽

pp. 30475-30483 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Seul Ah Kim ◽

Muhammad Awais Abbas ◽

Lanlee Lee ◽

Byungwuk Kang ◽

Hahkjoon Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Open Circuit Voltage ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Defect Density ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Surface Characteristics ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Voltage Decay ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

The surface characteristics of the ZnO photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cells are elucidated by in-depth electrochemical analyses including open-circuit voltage decay measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

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Preparation of Nano-Ag-TiO2 Composites by Co-60 Gamma Irradiation to Enhance the Photocurrent of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

International Journal of Photoenergy ◽

10.1155/2019/5737952 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Le Thanh Nguyen Huynh ◽

Viet Hai Le ◽

Thanh Long Vo ◽

Thi Kim Lan Nguyen ◽

Quoc Hien Nguyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Charge Transfer ◽

Electrochemical Impedance ◽

Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽

Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽

Charge Transfer Resistance ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Transfer Resistance ◽

Dye Sensitized ◽

Sensitized Solar Cells

Nano-silver-titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO2) composites were prepared from commercial TiO2 (P25, Degussa) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) by gamma Co-60 irradiation method with various initial concentrations of AgNO3. The nano-AgTiO2 composites are utilized as the photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Under full sunlight illumination (1000 W/m2, AM 1.5), the efficiency of DSCs has improved significantly despite the Ag content of below 1%. The DSC—assembled with 0.75 Ag-TiO2 (0.75% Ag) photoanode—showed that the photocurrent was significantly enhanced from 8.1 mA.cm−2 to 9.5 mA.cm−2 compared to the DSCs using bared TiO2 photoanode. The unchanged open-circuit voltage resulted in the overall energy conversion efficiency to be increased by 25% from 3.75% to 4.86%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis showed that the charge transfer resistance is reduced when increasing Ag content, demonstrating that the charge transfer at TiO2/dye interface was enhanced in the presence of silver nanoparticles.

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