Characterization of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing high absorption coefficient metal-free organic dyes

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using the organic hole-transporting medium (HTM) 2,2'7,7'-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-MeOTAD), and three organic indoline-based sensitizer dyes with high molar extinction coefficients. The cells were characterized by several techniques, including spectral response measurements, photovoltage decay transients, intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), and charge extraction. The differences in apparent electron lifetime observed for cells fabricated using the three dyes are attributed in part to changes in the surface dipole potential at the TiO2/spiro-MeOTAD interface, which shift the TiO2 conduction band energy relative to the Fermi level of the HTM. These energy shifts influence both the open circuit voltage (as a result of changes in free electron density) and the short circuit current (as a consequence of changes in the overlap between the dye LUMO level and the conduction band). A self-consistent approach was used to derive the positions of the conduction band relative to the spiro-MeOTAD redox Fermi level for cells fabricated using the three dyes. The analysis also provided estimates of the free electron lifetime in spiro-MeOTAD cells. In order to evaluate the possible contribution of the adsorbed dyes to the observed changes in surface dipole potential, their dipole moments were estimated using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Comparison of the calculated dipole contributions with the experimentally measured shifts in conduction band energy revealed that other factors such as proton adsorption may be predominant in determining the surface dipole potential.     

Computational studies on the interactions among redox couples, additives and TiO2: implications for dye-sensitized solar cells

One of the major and unique components of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) is the iodide/triiodide redox couple. Periodic density-functional calculations have been carried out to study the interactions among three different components of the DSSC, i.e. the redox shuttle, the TiO(2) semiconductor surface, and nitrogen containing additives, with a focus on the implications for the performance of the DSSC. Iodide and bromide with alkali metal cations as counter ions are strongly adsorbed on the TiO(2) surface. Small additive molecules also strongly interact with TiO(2). Both interactions induce a negative shift of the Fermi energy of TiO(2). The negative shift of the Fermi energy is related to the performance of the cell by increasing the open voltage of the cell and retarding the injection dynamics (decreasing the short circuit current). Additive molecules, however, have relatively weaker interaction with iodide and triiodide.     

二氢吲哚类染料用于染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂的比较

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)对四种二氢吲哚染料进行研究, 从中筛选出相对优秀的染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂. 对前线分子轨道的计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的前线分子轨道结构非常有利于染料激发态向TiO2电极的电子注入. 对真空中的紫外和可见光吸收光谱的计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的吸收光谱与太阳辐射光谱匹配较好. 对染料分子的能级计算表明, 二氢吲哚染料的能级结构比较适合于I-/I-3作电解液的TiO2纳米晶太阳能电池的光敏剂. 二氢吲哚染料最低未占据分子轨道(LUMO) 能级均比TiO2晶体导带边能级高, 能够保证激发态染料分子高效地向TiO2电极转移电子. 二氢吲哚染料最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)的能级比I-/I-3能级低, 保证了失去电子的染料分子能够顺利地从电解液中得到电子. 与实验数据比较, 得出在提高染料敏化太阳能电池转换效率方面, 对染料的关键要求是LUMO能级的位置. 染料分子的稳定性是染料敏化太阳能电池使用寿命的关键因素. 通过对化学键键长的比较表明, 二氢吲哚染料的分子稳定性基本相同. 对计算结果的分析表明, 二氢吲哚染料1(ID1)的LUMO能级最高, 分子稳定性最好, 在酒精溶液中的吸收光谱与太阳辐射光谱匹配很好, 在同类染料中是较好的染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂.     

8-羟基喹啉铁配合物对锐钛矿型TiO2(101)表面的敏化机理

用密度泛函理论和DMol3程序包对锐钛矿型TiO2(101)表面复合三(8-羟基喹啉-5-羧酸)铁的敏化机理进行了研究. 计算结果表明, 该染料敏化剂经式结构的HOMO(最高占据分子轨道)-LUMO(最低未占据分子轨道)能隙非常小, 很容易受到激发; TiO2纳米晶吸附染料后, HOMO、LUMO 和费米能级都升高, 导致吸附染料后开路电压VOC升高. 并进一步探讨了三(8-羟基喹啉-5-羧酸)铁在TiO2(101)表面复合过程及作用机理.     

Al掺杂对锐钛矿型TiO2光催化性能影响的研究

采用平面波赝势(PWPP)方法进行密度泛函(DFT)计算,研究了Al掺杂对锐钛矿晶体能带、态密度的影响.分析发现掺杂后Al原子3s和3p轨道上的电子虽然对晶体的价带和导带贡献不大,却诱使导带发生较大程度下移,禁带宽度减小,理论预测可以发生红移.采用低温燃烧合成法制备了Al掺杂锐钛矿型纳米TiO2,紫外-可见吸收光谱检测和甲基橙降解实验证明,Al掺杂TiO2光吸收强度增强,吸收带边界发生红移;光催化性能较纯TiO2有所改善.理论计算结果与实验结果相符.     

High carrier density and capacitance in TiO2 nanotube arrays induced by electrochemical doping

The paper describes the electronic charging and conducting properties of vertically oriented TiO 2 nanotube arrays formed by anodization of Ti foil samples. The resulting films, composed of vertically oriented nanotubes approximately 10 mum long, wall thickness 22 nm, and pore diameter 56 nm, are analyzed using impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Depending on the electrochemical conditions two rather different electronic behaviors are observed. Nanotube array samples in basic medium show behavior analogous to that of nanoparticulate TiO 2 films used in dye-sensitized solar cells: a chemical capacitance and electronic conductivity that increase exponentially with bias potential indicating a displacement of the Fermi level. Nanotube array samples in acidic medium, or samples in a basic medium submitted to a strong negative bias, exhibit a large increase in capacitance and conductivity indicating Fermi level pinning. The contrasting behaviors are ascribed to proton intercalation of the TiO 2. Our results suggest a route for controlling the electronic properties of the ordered metal-oxide nanostructures for their use in applications including supercapacitors, dye-sensitized solar cells, and gas sensing.     

Preparation of a nanoporous CaCO3-coated TiO2 electrode and its application to a dye-sensitized solar cell

A nanoporous CaCO3 overlayer-coated TiO2 thick film was prepared by the topotactic thermal decomposition of Ca(OH)2, and its performance as an electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell was investigated. As compared to bare TiO2, nanoporous CaCO3-coated TiO2 provided higher specific surface area and, subsequently, a larger amount of dye adsorption; this in turn increased short-circuit current (Jsc). Furthermore, the CaCO3 coating demonstrated increased impedance at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface and increased the lifetime of the photoelectrons, indicating the improved retardation of the back electron transfer, which increases Jsc, open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (ff). Thereby, the energy conversion efficiency (eta) of the solar cell improved from 7.8 to 9.7% (an improvement of 24.4%) as the nanoporous CaCO3 layer was coated onto TiO2 thick films.     

Efficient eosin y dye-sensitized solar cell containing Br-/Br3- electrolyte

We found that Br-/Br3- is more suitable than an I-/I3- couple in dye-sensitized solar cells in terms of higher open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) production and higher overall energy conversion efficiency (eta) if the dye sensitizer has a more positive potential than that of Br-/Br3-. Under simulated AM1.5 one sun, an eosin Y dye-sensitized solar cell containing 0.4 M LiBr + 0.04 M Br2 electrolyte in acetonitrile yielded a short-circuit photocurrent (Jsc) of 4.63 mA cm(-2), Voc of 0.813 V, and fill factor (FF) of 0.693, corresponding to 2.61% of eta. Under the same conditions except for the electrolyte 0.4 M LiI + 0.04 M I2 in acetonitrile instead, the device produced 1.67% of eta (Jsc = 5.15 mA cm(-2), Voc = 0.451 V, FF = 0.721). Replacement of I-/I3- with Br-/Br3- in eosin Y dye-sensitized solar cells yielded a significant increase in Voc offset by slight decreases in Jsc and FF, leading to an increase in eta by 56%. The significant gain in Voc was attributed to the enlarged energy level difference between the redox potential of the electrolyte and the Fermi level of TiO2 and the suppressed charge recombination as well. The rate for charge recombination between bromine and the injected electrons was determined to be first order in bromine.     

Molecular adjustment of the electronic properties of nanoporous electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Molecular modification of dye-sensitized, mesoporous TiO2 electrodes changes their electronic properties. We show that the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) of dye-sensitized solar cells varies linearly with the dipole moment of coadsorbed phosphonic, benzoic, and dicarboxylic acid derivatives. A similar dependence is observed for the short-circuit current density (I(sc)). Photovoltage spectroscopy measurements show a shift of the signal onset as a function of dipole moment. We explain the dipole dependence of the V(oc) in terms of a TiO2 conduction band shift with respect to the redox potential of the electrolyte, which is partially followed by the energy level of the dye. The I(sc) shift is explained by a dipole-dependent driving force for the electron current and a dipole-dependent recombination current.     

Theoretical study of quinolines-I(2) intermolecular interaction and implications on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

The monomer and intermolecular charge-transfer complexes of 13 different quinoline derivatives with diiodine were studied using ab initio molecular orbital (MO) and density functional theory (DFT) methods. Calculations revealed that the sigma* orbital of iodine interacts with the nitrogen lone pair in the quinoline ring. The open-circuit photovoltage (V(oc)) values of an Ru(II) complex dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO(2) solar cell with an I(-)/I(3) (-) redox electrolyte in acetonitrile using quinoline additives were compared to the computational calculations on the intermolecular interaction between quinolines and I(2). The optimized geometries, frequency analyses, Mulliken population analyses, natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses, and interaction energies indicate that the V(oc) value of the solar cell is higher when quinoline complexes more favorably interact with I(2). Therefore, the interaction between the quinoline additives and iodine redox electrolyte is an important factor for controlling dye-sensitized solar cell performance.     

Theoretical investigation of anthanthrene-based dyes in dye‐sensitized solar cell applications: Effect of nature of alkyl-substitutions and number of anchoring groups

In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the dye material plays a crucial role in determining the amount of electrical current obtained, which is the primary outcome of the cell. Therefore, it is crucial to explain the performance of a dye at a molecular level. This work investigates using density functional theory and time-dependent density (DFT and TD-DFT, respectively) four experimentally tested anthanthrene-based dyes abbreviated as D1 to D4. The four dyes differ in their alkyl-substitutions (nonane or 3-ethylheptane) and the number of anchoring groups (one/two cyanoacrylic acid/s). To study the effect of these two structural features, the work involves the calculations of the geometrical structures, electronic and optical properties of isolated forms. In addition, the adsorption behaviour of these dyes on TiO₂ clusters was explained. Properties such as the adsorption energies, and electro-optical properties were calculated and discussed.     

Nanocrystalline electrodes based on nanoporous-walled WO3 nanotubes for organic-dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanoporous-walled tungsten oxide (WO(3)) nanotubes (NTs), which had a more positive conduction band edge level compared to that of TiO(2), were applied to various organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The dye-sensitized WO(3) NTs displayed photosensitization for the organic dyes whose lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level was relatively positive to the conventional TiO(2) electrode and, thus, not applicable for electron injection to the TiO(2) electrode. Electron transport time and electron lifetime for the WO(3) electrode in the DSSCs were investigated. In comparison to the DSSCs based on TiO(2), SnO(2), and In(2)O(3), the WO(3) DSSCs displayed the longest lifetime. On the other hand, non-diffusion-like electron transport may be an issue to apply WO(3) for the DSSCs.     

Significant efficiency improvement of the black dye-sensitized solar cell through protonation of TiO2 films

This paper describes the influence of acid pretreatment ofTiO2 mesoporous films prior to dye sensitization on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on [(C4H9)4N]3[Ru(Htcterpy)(NCS)3] (tcterpy = 4,4',4"-tricarboxy- 2,2',2"-terpyridine), the so-called black dye. The HCl pretreatment caused an increase in overall efficiency by 8%, with a major contribution from photocurrent improvement. It is speculated, from the analysis of incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency, UV-vis absorption spectra, redox properties of the dye and TiO2, and the impedance spectra of the dye-sensitized solar cells, that photocurrent enhancement is attributed to the increases in electron injection and/or charge collection efficiency besides the improvement of light harvesting efficiency upon HCl pretreatment. Open-circuit photovoltage (V(oc)) remained almost unchanged in the case of significant positive shift of flat band potential for TiO2 upon HCl pretreatment. The suppression of electron transfer from conduction band electrons to the I3- ions in the electrolyte upon HCl pretreatment, reflected by the increased resistance at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface and reduced dark current, resulted in a V(oc) gain, which compensated the V(oc) loss due to the positive shift of the flat band. Using the HCl pretreatment approach, 10.5% of overall efficiency with the black dye was obtained under illumination of simulated AM 1.5 solar light (100 mW cm(-2)) using an antireflection film on the cell surface.     

TiO2纳米片/巢状分级结构纳米阵列薄膜的制备及其在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

采用水热合成法在氟掺杂二氧化锡(FTO)导电玻璃基底上得到TiO2纳米阵列薄膜,并进一步通过NaOH溶液水热处理制备了由巢状纳米阵列及纳米片覆盖层构成的TiO2纳米阵列分级结构一体化薄膜.采用场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM),X射线衍射(XRD),紫外-可见(UV-Vis)漫反射光谱和吸收光谱技术对TiO2薄膜的结构和性质进行表征.FE-SEM结果表明:分级结构TiO2薄膜膜厚为1.5μm,薄膜由一层纳米片覆盖层(约0.2μm高)和一层巢状纳米阵列层(约1.3μm高)组成.XRD谱图表明TiO2薄膜为锐钛矿相.UV-Vis光谱显示分级结构TiO2薄膜具有较强的光捕获能力和染料吸附能力.TiO2纳米片/巢状分级结构纳米阵列薄膜作为光阳极,可有效地提高染料敏化太阳能电池的光电转换效率,其短路电流(Jsc)为7.79mA·cm-2,开路电压(Voc)为0.80V,填充因子(FF)为0.40,光电转换效率(η)为2.48%,其光电转换效率较TiO2纳米阵列薄膜提高了近10倍.     

Influence of a TiCl4 post-treatment on nanocrystalline TiO2 films in dye-sensitized solar cells

In this study, the influence of the TiCl(4) post-treatment on nanocrystalline TiO(2) films as electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells is investigated and compared to nontreated films. As a result of this post-treatment cell efficiencies are improved, due to higher photocurrents. On a microscopic scale TiO(2) particle growth on the order of 1 nm is observed. Despite a corresponding decrease of BET surface area, more dye is adsorbed onto the oxide surface. Although it seems trivial to match this finding with the improved photocurrent, this performance improvement cannot be attributed to higher dye adsorption only. This follows from comparison between incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) and light absorption characteristics. Since the charge transport properties of the TiO(2) films are already more than sufficient without treatment, the increase in short circuit current density J(SC) cannot be related to improvements in charge transport either. Transient photocurrent measurements indicate a shift in the conduction band edge of the TiO(2) upon TiCl(4) treatment. It is concluded that the main contribution to enhanced current originates from this shift in conduction band edge, resulting in improved charge injection into the TiO(2).     

Rutile TiO2 nano-branched arrays on FTO for dye-sensitized solar cells

Hierarchical TiO(2) nanostructures would be desirable for preparing dye-sensitized solar cells because of their large amount of dye adsorption and superior light harvesting efficiency, as well as efficient charge separation and transport properties. In this study, rutile TiO(2) nano-branched arrays grown directly on transparent conductive glass (FTO) were prepared by a facile two-step wet chemical synthesis process, using a simple aqueous chemical growth method involving immersing the TiO(2) nanorod arrays in an aqueous TiCl(4) solution as seeds, which were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The dye-sensitized solar cells based on the TiO(2) nano-branched arrays which were only about 3 μm in length show a short-circuit current intensity of 10.05 mA cm(-2) and a light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 3.75%, which is nearly three times as high as that of bare nanorod arrays, due to the preferable nanostructure, which not only retains the efficient charge separation and transport properties of the nanorod arrays, but also can improve the amount of dye adsorption due to the increased specific surface area from the nanobranches.     

有机染料D-SS和D-ST用于染料敏化太阳能电池光敏剂的比较

为了揭示D-SS和D-ST分子敏化的染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs)的物理机制,采用密度泛函理论(DFT)、含时密度泛函理论(TDDFT)和自然键轨道(NBO)分析,模拟计算染料D-SS和D-ST分子的结构、紫外-可见吸收光谱和能级结构.D-SS的紫外-可见吸收光谱相比于D-ST的有明显的红移,而且D-SS分子的摩尔吸光系数也高于D-ST分子的.D-SS分子本应该比D-ST分子拥有更高的俘获太阳辐射光子的能力,但由于D-SS分子的最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)能级位置比氧化还原电解质(|-/|-3)的氧化还原能级高,处于光激发态的D-SS分子向TiO2电极注入电子而被氧化后,不能顺利地从电解质中得到电子而还原,使得D-SS分子俘获光子的能力不能充分发挥,从而严重地降低了由其敏化的DSSCs的光电性能和光电能量转换效率.揭示了D-SS敏化的DSSCs的光电性能,特别是光电能量转换效率比D-ST敏化的DSSCs的低的原因.染料敏化剂分子的HOMO能级的位置对于DSSCs来说也是很重要的,用于DSSCs的有机敏化剂分子的HOMO能级的位置必须低于氧化还原电解质的氧化还原能级.     

TiO2 surface modification and characterization with nanosized PbS in dye-sensitized solar cells

The nanoporous TiO2 films utilized in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) possess a large surface-to-volume ratio, which facilitates the adsorption of sensitizing dye and the recombination due to the high density of surface traps. In this paper, nanosized PbS was fabricated on the TiO2 films. The components of the modified TiO2 film were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), while the structure of the film was characterized with BET physisorption and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). The results showed that the PbS particles were 2-3 nm and discrete on the surface of TiO2. Diffusion photovoltage (PV) spectroscopy was employed to study the charge separation and diffusion processes inside modified and unmodified TiO2 films. The diffusion PV signals revealed that the traps on the surface of TiO2 were extremely reduced due to the presence of PbS. The results of transient photovoltage and back I-V characteristics showed that the back reaction, that is, the recombination due to the reaction between an electron on TiO2 and the hole-transporting media, was retarded significantly.     

Calculated structural and electronic interactions of the ruthenium dye N3 with a titanium dioxide nanocrystal

Structural and electronic properties of a small anatase TiO2 nanocrystal sensitized by the ruthenium dye N3 (Ru(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)2(NCS)2) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) with support from Hartree-Fock (HF) and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations. Significant structural adjustments of both the dye and the nanocrystal are predicted to be induced by the strain imposed by the simultaneous formation of multiple dye-surface bonds. Electronic properties of the combined dye-nanocrystal system have also been calculated, including information about interfacial orbital mixing and the lowest excited singlet states. Ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer processes across the dye-nanoparticle interface in dye-sensitized solar cells are finally discussed in view of estimated electronic coupling strengths. The calculations predict injection times on the order of 10 fs for MLCT excitations to the ligand pi* levels that interact most strongly with the TiO2 conduction band, and an order of magnitude increase in the injection times for excitations to dye levels with poor spatial or energetic overlaps with the substrate conduction band.     

Quantification of the effect of 4-tert-butylpyridine addition to I-/I3- redox electrolytes in dye-sensitized nanostructured TiO2 solar cells

Addition of 4-tert-butylpyridine (4TBP) to redox electrolytes used in dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells has a large effect on their performance. In an electrolyte containing 0.7 M LiI and 0.05 M I2 in 3-methoxypropionitrile, addition of 0.5 M 4TBP gave an increase of the open-circuit potential of 260 mV. Using charge extraction and electron lifetime measurements, this increases could be attributed to a shift of the TiO2 band edge toward negative potentials (responsible for 60% of the voltage increase) and to an increase of the electron lifetime (40%). At a lower 4TBP concentration the shift of the band edge was similar, but the effect on the electron lifetime was less pronounced. The working mechanism of 4TBP can be summarized as follows: (1) 4TBP affects the surface charge of TiO2 by decreasing the amount of adsorbed protons and/or Li+ ions. (2) It decreases the recombination of electrons in TiO2 with triiodide in the electrolyte by preventing triiodide access to the TiO2 surface and/or by complexation with iodine in the electrolyte.