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.     

Room-temperature preparation of nanocrystalline TiO2 films and the influence of surface properties on dye-sensitized solar energy conversion

An extremely easy method is presented for producing surfactant-free films of nanocrystalline TiO2 at room temperature with excellent mechanical stability when deposited on glass or plastic electrodes for dye-sensitized solar energy conversion. Prolonged magnetic stirring of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (Degussa P25) in either ethanol or water results in highly homogeneous dispersions which are used to prepare TiO2 films with surface properties which depend on the solvent used for dispersing the particles, even after sintering. The optical and mechanical properties of films cast from ethanol and water dispersions are compared, and differences in the extent of surface defects and dye binding are observed. Optical absorption, photoluminescence, and resonance Raman spectra of TiO2 films sensitized with Ru(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)2(NCS)2 ("N3") reveal that the electronic coupling of the dye and semiconductor depends on the surface structure of the film which varies with film preparation. Current-voltage data for illuminated and dark dye-sensitized solar cells are obtained as a function of film preparation, and results are compared to spectroscopic data in order to interpret the microscopic basis for variations in solar cell performance, especially with regard to sintered versus unsintered TiO2 films. The results suggest that surface traps associated with oxygen vacancies play a critical role in determining the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar energy conversion through their influence on the binding and electronic coupling of the dye to the semiconductor.     

A simple recipe for an efficient TiO2 nanofiber-based dye-sensitized solar cell

Development of highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with good photovoltaic parameters is an active research area of current global interest. In this article, we provide a simple recipe for the fabrication of electrospun TiO(2) nanorod-based efficient dye-sensitized solar cell using a Pechini-type sol. The Pechini-type sol of TiO(2) nanofibers produces a highly porous and compact layer of TiO(2) upon doctor-blading and sintering without the need for an adhesion and scattering layers or TiCl(4) treatment. The best nanofiber DSSCs with an area of ~0.28 cm(2) shows an efficiency of ~4.2% under standard test conditions (100 mW/cm(2), 25°C and AM1.5 G) and an incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of ~50%. Impedance measurements show lower charge transfer resistance that improved the fill factor. We believe that simple approaches such as the present one to develop nanofiber DSSCs would open up enormous possibilities in effective harvesting of solar energy for commercial applications, considering the fact that electrospinning is a cost-effective method for the mass scale production of nanofibers and nanorods.     

Deposition of a thin film of TiOx from a titanium metal target as novel blocking layers at conducting glass/TiO2 interfaces in ionic liquid mesoscopic TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells

In dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells, charge recombination processes at interfaces between fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), TiO2, dye, and electrolyte play an important role in limiting the photon-to-electron conversion efficiency. From this point of view, a high work function material such as titanium deposited by sputtering on FTO has been investigated as an effective blocking layer for preventing electron leakage from FTO without influencing electron injection. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that different species of Ti (Ti4+, Ti3+, Ti2+, and a small amount of Ti0) exist on FTO. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements reveal that thin films of titanium species, expressed as TiOx, work as a compact blocking layer between FTO and TiO2 nanocrystaline film, improving Voc and the fill factor, finally giving a better conversion efficiency for dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells with ionic liquid electrolytes.     

Sputtered Nb2O5 as an effective blocking layer at conducting glass and TiO2 interfaces in ionic liquid-based dye-sensitized solar cells

The thin Nb(2)O(5) layer works as a remarkable blocking layer when deposited by the rf magnetron sputtering method between fluorine-doped tin oxide and a mesoporous TiO(2) layer, improving open-circuit photovoltage (V(oc)) and fill factor (FF) with power conversion efficiency over 5.5% at 1 sun irradiation of the dye-sensitized TiO(2) solar cells using ionic liquid electrolytes.     

Nanoparticle self-assembled hollow TiO(2) spheres with well matching visible light scattering for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells

Submicrometer-sized hollow TiO(2) spheres are directly self-assembled from TiO(2) nanoparticles without using any template or surfactant as a scattering layer for dye-sensitized solar cells, showing good visible light scattering match to significantly improve the photoconversion efficiency.     

Porous copper zinc tin sulfide thin film as photocathode for double junction photoelectrochemical solar cells

Porous copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) thin film was prepared via a solvothermal approach. Compared with conventional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), double junction photoelectrochemical cells using dye-sensitized n-type TiO(2) (DS-TiO(2)) as the photoanode and porous p-type CZTS film as the photocathode shows an increased short circuit current, external quantum efficiency and power conversion efficiency.     

TiO2/ZnO薄膜电极中光生电子的传输及其在太阳电池中的应用

制备了TiO2纳米颗粒和ZnO纳米棒混合的多孔薄膜电极, 利用瞬态光电压技术研究了染料敏化TiO2/ZnO薄膜中光生载流子的传输特性. 实验结果表明, ZnO纳米棒增加了薄膜中自由电子扩散速率, 减小了复合几率, 改善了能量转换效率.     

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.     

Novel Quasi-solid-state Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Based on Monolayer Capped TiO2 Nanoparticles Framework Materials

Dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS)-capped TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized and employed in dye-sensitized solar cells to form a quasi-solid state electrolyte. Owing to the long alkyl-chain capping around the TiO2 nanoparticles interacting with the liquid solvent, the dye sensitized solar cell based on such DBS-capped TiO2 nanoparticle framework material gel electrolyte shows higher stability compared with the non-capped one in the long-term application and gives a comparable overall efficiency of 6.3% at AM 1.5 illumination.     

TiO2 derived by titanate route from electrospun nanostructures for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells

We report the use of highly porous, dense, and anisotropic TiO(2) derived from electrospun TiO(2)-SiO(2) nanostructures through titanate route in dye-sensitized solar cells. The titanate-derived TiO(2) of high surface areas exhibited superior photovoltaic parameters (efficiency > 7%) in comparison to the respective electrospun TiO(2) nanomaterials and commercially available P-25.     

Triton X-100对染料敏化太阳电池性能影响的研究

采用无水相体系的胶体通过丝网印刷工艺制备TiO2薄膜电极,研究发现曲拉通(TritonX-100)可以明显改变TiO2电极显微结构,且对染料敏化太阳电池的性能影响显著.过少或过多的曲拉通都将导致开路电压、短路电流、填充因子以及效率的降低.由3gP25粉末配制的胶体中,曲拉通适宜的加入量约为0.8mL.     

TiO2/SnO2复合空心球在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

采用模板辅助法制备了SnO2/TiO2复合空心球,样品直径为1.5~4.0μm,比表面积达到了92.9 m^2·g^-1,复合空心球表现出优越的光散射性能.以这种复合空心球作为染料敏化太阳能电池的光阳极,电池的光电转换效率可达到7.72%,高于SnO2微米球(2.70%)和TiO2微米球(6.26%).此外,以锐钛矿型TiO2纳米晶作为底层,SnO2/TiO2复合空心球作为光散射层制备的双层结构光阳极,电池光电转换效率进一步提升至8.43%.     

TiO2 band shift by nitrogen-containing heterocycles in dye-sensitized solar cells: a periodic density functional theory study

A density functional theory (DFT) method (periodic DMol3) with full geometry optimization was used to study the adsorption of nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, and 4-t-butylpyridine (TBP) on TiO2 anatase (101), (100), and (001) surfaces. All structures displayed a negative shift in the TiO2 Fermi level upon adsorption of N-containing heterocycles. Additionally, the heterocycles were examined as an additive in an I-/I3- redox electrolyte solution of dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cell. The DFT results indicated that the negative shift of TiO2 Fermi level was due to the adsorbate dipole moment component normal to the TiO2 surface plane, and corresponded to the enhanced open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) and the reduced short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) in a dye-sensitized solar cell.     

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.     

Rapid (∼10 min) synthesis of single-crystalline, nanorice TiO2 mesoparticles with a high photovoltaic efficiency of above 8%

A novel rapid (～10 min) microwave-hydrothermal synthesis is demonstrated for nanorice TiO(2) mesoparticles as an anode of a dye-sensitized solar cell with an excellent photovoltaic efficiency of above 8%.     

Linkage of N3 dye to N3 dye on nanocrystalline TiO2 through trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene for enhancement of photocurrent of dye-sensitized solar cells

Linking of N3 dye to another TiO2-attached N3 dye rendered an enhanced short-circuit photocurrent and thereby higher efficiency for the dye-sensitized solar cell with the pertinent TiO2 film electrode.     

Surface-treated TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells with remarkably enhanced performance

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared by capitalizing on mesoporous P-25 TiO(2) nanoparticle film sensitized with N719 dyes. Subjecting TiO(2) nanoparticle films to TiCl(4) treatment, the device performance was improved. More importantly, O(2) plasma processing of TiO(2) film that was not previously TiCl(4)-treated resulted in a lower efficiency; by contrast, subsequent O(2) plasma exposure after TiCl(4) treatment markedly enhanced the power conversion efficiency, PCE, of DSSCs. Remarkably, with TiCl(4) and O(2) plasma treatments dye-sensitized TiO(2) nanoparticle solar cells produced with 21 μm thick TiO(2) film illuminated under 100 mW/cm(2) exhibited a PCE as high as 8.35%, twice of untreated cells of 3.86%.     

TiO2 nanotube fabrication with highly exposed (001) facets for enhanced conversion efficiency of solar cells

We demonstrate that the use of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and acetic acid during the synthesis of TiO(2) nanotubes may result in the synthesis of single-crystal-like anatase TiO(2) with a mainly exposed and chemically active (001) facet. An enhancement in the overall conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells was observed in a photoanode consisting of TiO(2) single-crystal-like anatase exposed (001) facets.     

Improving the performance of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using MgO-coated TiO2 nanoporous film

An ultrathin overlayer of MgO on TiO2 is shown to drastically improve the stability of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using CuI as a hole conductor in addition to solar energy conversion efficiency.