TiCl4处理多孔薄膜对染料敏化太阳电池中电子传输特性影响研究

借助于强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)技术,研究了纳米TiO₂多孔薄膜在TiCl₄溶液处理后组装成的染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)中电子传输和背反应动力学特性. 研究表明:纳米TiO₂多孔薄膜经TiCl₄溶液处理后,电池中暗电流减小,电子寿命τ_n明显延长,电子传输时间τ_d缩短,电子有效扩散系数D_n增大,电子扩散长度L_n值升高,入射单色光子/电子转化效率η_IPCE增加,光生电荷量Q_oc显著增加. 文章从微观层面上研究了TiCl₄溶液处理纳米TiO₂多孔薄膜对DSC内部电子的产生、传输和复合过程的影响,从而很好地解释了电池光伏性能随TiCl₄溶液处理的变化关系. 关键词： 4')" href="#">TiCl₄ 电子传输 染料敏化 太阳电池     

TiO2颗粒尺寸对染料敏化太阳电池内电子输运特性影响研究

采用强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)研究了染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)内部电子传输和背反应动力学特性.在纳米TiO₂薄膜厚度相同的情况下,借助于IMPS/IMVS测量了由3种不同TiO₂颗粒尺寸大小薄膜制备出DSC的电荷传输特征参数值.IMPS/IMVS理论模型拟合实验测量数据的结果表明：在不同入射光强下,随着颗粒尺寸的增大,电子扩散系数(D_n)增大,而电子寿命(τ_n 关键词： 染料敏化 太阳电池 IMPS/IMVS 电子传输     

染料敏化太阳电池中TiO2膜内电子传输和背反应特性研究

采用强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)研究电池内部电子传输机理和电子背反应动力学特性.利用理论表达式对不同TiO₂多孔膜厚度(d)的电池实验数据进行了拟合,得到了电池的吸收系数(α)、电子扩散系数(D_n)、电子寿命(τ_n)、电子传输时间(τ_d)和入射单色光光电转化效率(IPCE)等微观参数的数值.研究表明：膜薄有利于加快电子传 关键词： 染料敏化 太阳电池 IMPS/IMVS 传输     

电极表面改性对染料敏化太阳电池性能影响的机理研究

采用强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)技术,从染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)电子传输和复合角度对比了不同光强下导电玻璃表面阻挡层及TiO₂薄膜优化使电池性能改善的内在原因.阻挡层的引入和TiO₂薄膜的优化均通过电沉积法实现.结果表明,对多孔薄膜电极的不同改性均提高了电池的短路电流J_sc和效率η,但对电子传输和复合过程的作用机理有所不同:前者延长了电子寿命τ _n,但电子传输时间τ _d变化不明显;而后者则主要是延长τ _n的同时也缩短了τ _d. 关键词： 染料敏化 太阳电池 调制光电流谱/调制光电压谱 电子输运     

聚苯胺基固态染料敏化太阳电池中电子输运性能的研究

以导电聚苯胺为空穴传输材料，制备了固态染料敏化太阳电池(DSC).利用强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)研究了TiO₂多孔膜内的电子输运及复合过程.通过TiO₂多孔膜内电子的平均传输时间(τ_d)和电子寿命(τ_n)及对IMPS实验数据的拟合，获得电子在TiO₂膜内的有效扩散系数(D_n)和扩散长度(L_n).这些聚苯胺基电池中的τ_n值为相应的液体型电池的1/10倍左右，表明在该固体电池中存在严重的光生电子的复合过程，这很可能主要是与氧化态染料分子和导电电子间的复合有关.随着TiO₂膜厚的增加，τ_n和τ_d均变小，但D_n和L_n随之增加，只有在合适的膜厚范围内才能获得较高的光伏性能. 关键词： 聚苯胺 染料敏化太阳电池 IMPS IMVS     

纳米TiO2颗粒/亚微米球多层结构薄膜内电荷传输性能研究

本文主要利用TiO₂亚微米球较强的光散射特性设计了纳米TiO₂颗粒/亚微米球多层结构光阳极, 并借助强度调制光电流谱(intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy)、电化学阻抗谱(electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)和入射单色光光电转化效率(incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency), 研究亚微米球的引入对多层结构薄膜内缺陷态、电子传输时间、电子收集效率和界面电荷转移性能的影响. 强度调制光电流谱反映出亚微米球表面缺陷态少, 但其颗粒间接触不紧密, 导致在接触部位形成了势垒, 阻碍了电子的传输, 导致电子传输时间增长. 电化学阻抗谱结果表明不同多层结构电池界面复合无明显差别, 同时底层采用纳米TiO₂ 透明薄膜结构的电池, 其光利用率要明显高于底层采用亚微米球薄膜结构的电池, TiO₂费米能级电子填充水平也相对增大, 使得电池的光电转换效率得到提升. 多层结构复合薄膜电荷传输和光伏特性的研究, 为高效染料敏化太阳电池光阳极设计提供了实验基础.     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanowire array/TiO2 nanoparticle composite photoelectrodes with controllable nanowire aspect ratio

The ZnO nanowire (NW) array/TiO₂ nanoparticle (NP) composite photoelectrode with controllable NW aspect ratio has been grown from aqueous solutions for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which combines the advantages of the rapid electron transport in ZnO NW array and the high surface area of TiO₂ NPs. The results indicate that the composite photoelectrode achieves higher overall photoelectrical conversion efficiency (η) than the ZnO NW alone. As a result, DSSCs based on the ZnO NW array/TiO₂ NP composite photoelectrodes get the enhanced photoelectrical conversion efficiency, and the highest η is also achieved by rational tuning the aspect ratio of ZnO NWs. With the proper aspect ratio (ca. 6) of ZnO NW, the ZnO NW array/TiO₂ NP composite DSSC exhibits the highest conversion efficiency (5.5 %). It is elucidated by the dye adsorption amount and interfacial electron transport of DSSCs with the ZnO NW array/TiO₂ NP composite photoelectrode, which is quantitatively characterized using the UV-Vis absorption spectra and electrochemical impedance spectra. It is evident that the DSSC with the proper aspect ratio of ZnO NW displays the high dye adsorption amount and fastest interfacial electron transfer.     

染料敏化太阳电池中TiO2颗粒界面接触对电子输运影响的研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备TiO₂浆料,通过丝网印刷技术印刷和不同温度曲线烧结TiO₂薄膜,并应用于染料敏化太阳电池(DSC).高分辨透射电子显微镜发现,低温下多孔薄膜中TiO₂颗粒之间呈现点接触,510 ℃烧结后TiO₂颗粒间由点接触变为面接触,近邻颗粒数增多,接触面积增大.同时采用强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)和强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)技术,研究了不同颗粒接触方式和接触面积对电子传输与复合的影响.结果表明:在420- 510 ℃之间,随着烧结温度提高,颗粒接触面积增大,电子传输时间(τ _d)缩短,电子有效扩散长度(L _n)增大,暗电流减小;当烧结温度达到550 ℃时,薄膜比表面积减小,多孔结构坍塌,表面态密度增大,电子传输时间(τ _d)增大.电池光伏特性研究表明:在480-510 ℃范围内烧结得到的TiO₂薄膜,电池短路电流密度(J_sc)最佳,电池效率(η)最好. 关键词： 界面接触 电子输运 暗电流 染料敏化太阳电池     

Electrical characterization of nylon-6 composite nanofibers

The electrical characteristics of nylon-6 nanofibers incorporated with TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were investigated. The resultant nanofibers exhibited good incorporation of nanoparticles. The impregnated TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into the nylon-6 nanofibers were confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy studies. The electrical conductivity of the nylon-6 incorporated with TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ composite nanofibers were higher than that of the pristine nylon-6 nanofibers. The impregnation of TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles significantly enhanced the electrical property of the composite nanofibers. These polymeric/nanoparticles composite nanofibers structure may open a new direction for future organic electronics.     

Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/Fe2O3 core-shell nanocomposition film and their photoelectrochemical property

TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ core-shell nanocomposition film has been fabricated via two-step method. TiO₂ nanorod arrays are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and followed by Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles deposited on TiO₂ nanorod arrays through an ordinary chemical bath deposition. The phase structures, morphologies, particle size, chemical compositions of the composites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer. The results confirm that Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles of mean size ca. 10 nm coated on the surface of TiO2 NRs. After depositing Fe₂O₃, UV-vis absorption property is induces the shift to the visible-light range, the annealing temperature of 600 °C is the best condition for UV-vis absorption property of TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite film, and increasing Fe content, optical activity are enhanced one by one. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performances of the as-prepared composite nanorods are determined by measuring the photo-generated currents under illumination of UV-vis light. The TiO₂ NRs modified by Fe₂O₃ show the photocurrent value of 1.36 mA/cm² at 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is higher than those of unmodified TiO₂ NRs.     

Comparison of the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells based on different TiO2 electrode nanostructures

This article reports on the performances of dye-sensitized solar cells based on three different working electrode structures, i.e., (i) sintered TiO₂ nanoparticles (20–40 nm diameters), (ii) ordered arrays of TiO₂ nanotubules (150 nm external diameters and 80 nm internal diameters), and (iii) ordered arrays of TiO₂ nanorods (150 nm diameters). Even though the highest short-circuit current density was achieved with systems based on TiO₂ nanotubules, the most efficient cells were those based on ordered arrays of TiO₂ nanorods. This is probably due to higher open-circuit photovoltage values attained with TiO₂ nanorods than with TiO₂ nanotubules. The nanorods are thicker than the nanotubules and therefore the injected electrons, stored in the trap states of the inner TiO₂ molecules, are shielded from recombination with holes in the redox electrolyte at open circuit. The high short-circuit photocurrent densities seen in the ordered TiO₂ systems can be explained by the fact that, as opposed to the sintered nanoparticles, the parallel and vertical orientation of the ordered nanostructures provide well-defined electrons percolation paths thus significantly reduce the diffusion distance and time constant.     

Minimizing structural deformation of gold nanorods in plasmon-enhanced dye-sensitized solar cells

Plasmonic metal nanoparticles have shown great promise in enhancing the light absorption of organic dyes and thus improving the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, as the plasmon resonance of spherical nanoparticles is limited to a single wavelength maximum (e.g., ~ 520 nm for Au nanoparticles), we have here utilized silica-coated gold nanorods (Au@SiO₂ NRs) to improve the performance at higher wavelengths as well. By adjusting the aspect ratio of the Au@SiO₂ NRs, we can shift their absorption maxima to better match the absorption spectrum of the utilized dye (here we targeted the 600–800 nm range). The main challenge in utilizing anisotropic nanoparticles in DSSCs is their deformation during the heating step required to sinter the mesoporous TiO₂ photoanode and we show that the Au@SiO₂ NRs start to deform already at temperatures as low as 200 °C. In order to circumvent this problem, we incorporated the Au@SiO₂ NRs in a TiO₂ nanoparticle suspension that does not need high sintering temperatures to produce a functional photoanode. With various characterization methods, we observed that adding the plasmonic particles also affected the structure of the produced films. Nonetheless, utilizing this low-temperature processing protocol, we were able to minimize the structural deformation of the gold nanorods and preserve their characteristic plasmon peaks. This allowed us to see a clear redshift of the maximum in the incident photon-to-current efficiency spectra of the plasmonic devices (Δλ ~ 14 nm), which further proves the great potential of utilizing Au@SiO₂ NRs in DSSCs.

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Graphical Abstract Undeformed gold nanorods provide an enhanced performance of dye-sensitized solar cells at high wavelengths

     

Fabrication of titanium dioxide nanofibers containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

In the present study, we introduce titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanofibers that contain hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) as a result of an electrospinning process. A simple method that does not depend on additional foreign chemicals has been employed to synthesize HAp NPs through calcination of bovine bones. Typically, a colloidal gel consisting of titanium isopropoxide/HAp was prepared to produce nanofibers embedded with solid NPs by electrospinning process. The SEM results confirmed well oriented nanofibers and good dispersion of HAp NPs over the nanofibers. XRD results demonstrated well crystalline feature of both TiO₂ and HAp. Physiochemical aspects of prepared nanofibers were characterized for TEM and TEM-EDS which confirmed nanofibers were well oriented and had good dispersion of HAp NPs. Accordingly, these results strongly recommend the use of obtained nanofiber mats as a future candidate for hard tissue engineering applications.     

Titania surface modification and photovoltaic characteristics with tungsten oxide

WO₃-coated TiO₂ film was prepared by depositing TiO₂ suspension containing small amounts of ammonium tungstate solution. The morphology and structure of the samples were characterized with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectrum. The results showed that WO₃ formed a coating layer on surface of TiO₂ and significantly reduced the surface traps of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Transient photovoltage and electrochemical impedance measurements (EIS) were employed to study the charge separation/recombination process. The results revealed that the charge recombination was greatly retarded and the electron lifetime was increased due to the coating layer of WO₃. These observations showed good correlation with current-voltage analyses of dye-sensitized solar cell fabricated from these films, with WO₃ overlayer resulting in an increase in open-circuit voltage of up to 37 mV and 11% improvement in overall device efficiency.     

Improvement of ZnO nanorod based quantum Dot (cadmium sulfide) sensitized solar cell efficiency by aluminum doping

This study investigates the performance of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) based on aluminum (Al)-doped and undoped ZnO nanorods. Current density–voltage (J–V) characterization shows that Al doping into ZnO nanorods (AZO NRs) can improve short circuit current density (J_sc) and the energy conversion efficiency (η) of QDSSCs. The maximum η=1.15% is achieved in QDSSCs when Al concentration is 0.5 wt%, as compared to undoped state where η=0.57%. These current densities and the energy conversion efficiency improvement are studied using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS results indicate that the electron transport resistance in the photoanode of QDSCs is reduced with introduction of Al into ZnO structure, which leads to increasing J_sc. It is also found that recombination resistance reduces with introduction of Al into ZnO because of the upward displacement of Fermi level with respect to AZO conduction band (CB) and increasing electron density in the ZnO CB. This reduction of recombination resistance causes higher recombination rate in QDSCs based AZO NRs.     

Oriented ZnO nanotubes arrays decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on a novel composite photoanode of TiO₂ nanoparticles coating on electrodeposited ZnO nanotube arrays are fabricated and characterized. An efficiency of 3.94 % is achieved for the composite cell, increasing 86.7 % than 2.11 % of the ZnO nanotubes cell. The short-circuit current (J _sc) and open-circuit voltage (V _oc) are also enhancing 52.9 % and 25.3 %, respectively. The improvements are because of the high surface area of TiO₂ nanoparticles, as well as fast electron transport and light scattering effect of ZnO nanotubes.     

A facile low temperature synthesis of TiO2 nanorods for high efficiency dye sensitized solar cells

Titania (TiO₂) nanorods have been synthesized with controlled size for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) via hydrothermal route at low hydrothermal temperature of 100 °C for 24 h. The titania nanorods were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM/HRTEM, UV-vis Spectroscopy, FTIR and BET specific surface area (S _BET), as well as pore-size distribution by BJH. The results indicated that the bulk traps and the surface states within the TiO₂ nanorods films have enhanced the efficiency of DSSCs. The size of the titania nanorods was 6.7 nm in width and 22 nm in length. The high surface area can provide more sites for dye adsorption, while the fast photoelectron-transfer channel can enhance the photogenerated electron transfer to complete the circuit. The specific surface area S _BET was 77.14 m²?g^?1 at the synthesis conditions. However, the band gap energy of the obtained titania nanorods was 3.2 eV. The oriented nanorods with appropriate lengths are beneficial in improving the electron transport property and thus leading to the increase of photocurrent, together enhancing the power conversion efficiency. A nearly quantitative absorbed photon-to-electrical current conversion achieved upon excitation at wave length of 550 nm and the power efficiency was enhanced from 5.6 % for commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles Degussa (P25) cells to 7.2 % for TiO₂ nanorods cells under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW?cm^?2). The TiO₂ cells performance was improved due to their high surface area, hierarchically mesoporous structures and fast electron-transfer rate compared with the Degussa (P25).     

A novel TiO2 nanoparticles/nanowires composite core with ZrO2 nanoparticles shell coating photoanode for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cell based on different electrolytes

The novel TiO₂ nanopartilces/nanowires (TNPWs) composite with ZrO₂ nanoparticles (ZNPs) shell-coated photoanodes were prepared to fabricate high-performance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) based on different types of electrolytes. Hafnium oxide (HfO₂) is a new and efficient blocking layer material applied over the TNPWs-ZNPs core-shell photoanode film. TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs) and TiO₂ nanowires (TNWs) were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DSSCs were fabricated using the novel photoanodes with an organic sensitizer D149 dye and different types of electrolytes namely liquid electrolyte, ionic liquid electrolyte, solid-state electrolyte, and quasi-solid-state electrolyte. The DSSC-4 made through the novel core-shell photoanode using quasi-solid-state electrolyte showed better photocurrent efficiency (PCE) as compared to the other DSSCs. It has such photocurrent-voltage characteristics: short circuit photocurrent (Jsc)?=?19 mA/cm², the open circuit voltage (Voc)?=?650 mV, fill factor (FF)?=?65 %, and PCE (η)?=?8.03 %. The improved performance of DSSC-4 is ascribed to the core-shell with blocking layer photoanode could increased electron transport and suppressed recombination of charge carriers at the TNPWs-ZNPs/dye/electrolyte interface.     

Au/TiO2 nanorod‐based Schottky‐type UV photodetectors

TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesized on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) pre‐coated glass substrates using hydrothermal growth technique. Scanning electron microscopy studies have revealed the formation of vertically‐aligned TiO₂ NRs with length of ～2 µm and diameter of 110–128 nm, homogenously distributed over the substrate surface. 130 nm thick Au contacts using thermal evaporation were deposited on the n‐type TiO₂ NRs at room temperature for the fabrication of NR‐based Schottky‐type UV photodetectors. The fabricated Schottky devices functioned as highly sensitive UV photodetectors with a peak responsivity of 134.8 A/W (λ = 350 nm) measured under 3 V reverse bias. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Symbiotic organism search algorithm for simulation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis> characteristics and optimizing internal parameters of DSSC developed using electrospun TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanofibers

In the present investigation, the recently developed, simple, robust, and powerful metaheuristic symbiotic organism search (SOS) algorithm was used for simulation of J-V characteristics and optimizing the internal parameters of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated using electrospun 1-D mesoporous TiO₂ nanofibers as photoanode. The efficiency (η =?5.80%) of the DSSC made up of TiO₂ nanofibers as photoanode is found to be ～ 21.59% higher compared to the efficiency (η =?4.77%) of the DSSC made up of TiO₂ nanoparticles as photoanode. The observed high efficiency can be attributed to high dye loading as well as high electron transport in the mesoporous 1-D TiO₂ nanofibers. Further, the validity and advantage of SOS algorithm are verified by simulating J-V characteristics of DSSC with Lambert-W function.