利用瞬态光电压技术对纳米TiO2 薄膜电极中光生电荷传输机理的研究

利用瞬态光电压技术对光生电荷在纳米TiO2 薄膜电极中的传输机理进行了研究. 结果表明光生电荷在纳米TiO2薄膜的体相和TiO2/ITO界面分别以扩散和漂移进行分离传输的. 并且对光生电子在TiO2/ITO界面的俘获对光电压响应产生显著的影响. 这是由于在TiO2/ITO界面存在界面势垒,且带弯是从TiO2指向ITO向下弯曲. 同时也表明瞬态光电压是一种很好的表征光电功能材料的光电性质的方法.     

新型梳状共聚物在准固态染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用及其对电子复合的影响

合成了乙烯基咪唑碘盐(VImI)和聚乙二醇单甲醚甲基丙烯酸酯(PEGMA)的梳状共聚物.利用VImI/PEGMA共聚物制备了准固态聚合物电解质.通过光电流密度-电压(J-V)曲线和电导率测定以及电化学阻抗分析,探讨了基于此电解质的染料敏化太阳能电池的电荷传输与界面电子转移机制.结果表明,VImI/PEGMA共聚物可以有效抑制TiO2/电解质界面电子复合并提高TiO2导带能级,敏化电池的光伏性能并不完全取决于电解质的电导率.通过考察共聚物中VImI与PEGMA单元的摩尔比与开路电压的关系,发现共聚物对电子复合的抑制作用主要源于VImI链段.此外,开路电压衰减(OCVD)和瞬态光电流测试结果说明,共聚物能够提高TiO2薄膜的电子寿命,而且对陷阱电子能级的分布具有调节作用.当共聚物在电解质中的质量分数为50%,VImI与PEGMA的摩尔比为5.0时,准固态染料敏化太阳能电池于100mW·cm-2光强下获得了4.10%的光电转换效率.     

退火对TiO2纳米管/线复合阵列表面光电性质的影响

采用阳极氧化法制备了TiO2纳米管/线复合阵列. 利用表面光电压谱(SPS)和场诱导表面光电压谱(FISPS)研究了退火对TiO2纳米管/线复合阵列表面光电性质的影响. 结果表明, TiO2纳米管/线复合阵列在晶化前后的导带边缘均出现了束缚激子态, 晶化前由于自建场较弱, 束缚激子态能在正负电场作用下发生不对称偏转; 晶化后, 晶体结构从非晶态变为晶态, 自建场增强, 束缚激子态对正电场敏感并表现出明显的光伏响应, 而在负电场作用下束缚激子态没有任何光伏响应.     

纳米薄膜光催化剂的制备与表面态研究

利用溶胶-凝胶提拉成膜法制备了TiO2,SnO2,Ag/SnO2,Ag/SnO2/TiO2纳米薄膜半导体催化剂.采用粉末电导法初步研究了纳米半导体薄膜催化剂的表面结构,测定了表面态能级相对于半导体导带边的位置.实验表明:四种催化剂在不同的表面能级位置都存在表面态:TiO2具有两类表面态,其能量分别为0.75eV和0.58eV.Ag/SnO2/TiO2由于Ag的担载,出现更负的表面态能级(0.33eV).这将会显著提高导带电子密度,加速光催化反应速率.     

稀土金属掺杂对锐钛矿型TiO2光催化活性影响的理论和实验研究

从理论和实验两方面探讨稀土金属掺杂对锐钛矿型TiO2光催化活性的影响.理论上采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理,对稀土掺杂TiO2前后的几何结构、能带结构、态密度及电子结构进行了系统的研究.结果表明,Y,La,Gd,Lu,Ce,Eu,Yb和Tb掺杂有助于TiO2光催化活性的提高;而对于Pr,Nd,Pm,Sm,Dy,Ho,Er和Tm掺杂,由于在价带顶和导带底之间形成了较多的可能成为光生电子和空穴的复合中心的杂质能级,故此类稀土的掺杂浓度需要控制在较小的范围内.另一方面,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了9种稀土金属(RE=Y,Ce,Pr,Sm,Gd,Dy,Ho,Er,Yb)掺杂的TiO2粉体,运用X射线衍射(XRD)和紫外-可见光谱法(UV-Vis)分别表征其晶体结构和光学吸收性质.结果表明,掺杂前后的TiO2均为锐钛矿相,且Ho,Pr,Ce,Sm,Y,Yb和Gd掺杂使TiO2在可见光区的吸收有不同程度的提高.理论预测与实验结果基本一致,且理论研究结果与周期表中稀土元素外层电子轨道排布规律一致,从而揭示了稀土元素掺杂的本质规律,指明了适量的稀土掺杂有利于TiO2光催化活性的提高.     

阳极氧化法制备TiO2纳米管及光催化研究进展

TiO2纳米管是一种新型的高性能材料,因其独特的有序结构而显示出优异的性能,在许多领域有着广泛的应用。本文主要阐述了阳极氧化法制备TiO2纳米管及其纳米管生成的机制,分析了制备过程中电解液pH、阳极氧化电压对所生成的TiO2纳米管阵列结构的影响。实现TiO2纳米管定向排布,对于发挥低维材料的效用至关重要。高度有序的纳米管阵列结构,具有显著的量子尺寸效应和取向效应。对TiO2纳米管阵列进行掺杂改性能够增强材料的光催化性能,提高其光催化效率。在光照条件下,光生电子能快速从TiO2纳米管的导带进入导电基体,大大降低了光生载流子复合几率,从而使其表现出良好的光电活性,可用于太阳能电池领域,在抗菌消毒,污水处理方面也具有很大的应用价值。     

V掺杂锐钛矿相TiO_2的光吸收特性

使用V2O5和乙醇作为V掺杂TiO2的滴加液,运用溶胶-凝胶方法制备了不同浓度的V掺杂锐钛矿相TiO2的薄膜样品.对这些样品进行了紫外-可见透射光谱实验,发现V掺杂锐钛矿相TiO2的光谱响应范围向可见光区域移动,掺杂浓度为1.0%(摩尔分数)时红移效果最明显.此外,运用第一性原理,对V掺杂锐钛矿相TiO2的电子结构进行了研究,并运用能带结构理论对实验现象进行了解释.研究中发现:在V掺杂锐钛矿相TiO2后,随着V浓度的增加,TiO2的禁带宽度逐渐减小,光谱响应范围扩大,能提高它的可见光响应;但是由于掺杂后价带与导带比较接近,容易形成新的空穴-电子复合中心,以及导带区域V3d轨道上电子与Ti3d轨道上的电子强关联作用也会降低电子的还原性,所以V浓度的增加会使TiO2的光催化性能降低.理论上计算出在V掺杂浓度为6.25%(摩尔分数)时,TiO2的光吸收边红移最大,与实验得到的变化趋势相吻合.     

不锈钢基/β-PbO2-TiO2-Co3O4复合镀层制备及其性能表征

使用直流复合电沉积方法制备不锈钢基β-PbO2、TiO2掺杂β-PbO2、Co3O4掺杂β-PbO2、TiO2和Co3O4共掺杂β-PbO2复合镀层材料.采用SEM、EDS、XRD和电化学测试等对复合电极进行形貌、成分、组成和催化活性表征,并且将不锈钢基/β-PbO2-TiO2-Co3O4电极应用到锌电积实验中.结果表明,添加Co3O4能提高PbO2电极的催化活性;添加TiO2可以起到细化晶粒,增大比表面积的作用;不锈钢基β-PbO2-TiO2-Co3O4复合镀层阳极与Pb-Ag合金阳极相比,锌电积槽电压降低为2.97V,电流效率提高到91.2％,使用寿命延长.     

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.     

Li掺杂ZnO的电子结构与电性能的研究

采用密度泛函理论平面波超软赝势方法研究了p型Li掺杂的纤锌矿结构ZnO的能带结构、态密度和电荷分布,并分析了Li掺杂ZnO的电输运性能.结果表明,Li掺杂ZnO具有1.6eV的直接带隙,且为p型半导体,体系费米能级附近的态密度大大提高,在导带和价带中都出现了由Li电子能级形成的能带,其费米能级附近的能带主要由Li的s态、Zn的p态、Zn的d态和O的p态电子构成,且他们之间存在着强相互作用.电输运参数和电输运性能分析结果表明,Li掺杂的ZnO氧化物价带和导带中的载流子有效质量均较大;其载流子输运主要由Li的s态、Zn的p态和O的p态电子完成;Li掺杂有望改善ZnO的电输运性能.     

染料敏化太阳能电池中额外给体引入对经典D-π-A型敏化剂性能影响的理论研究

为了探讨D-D-π-A型染料中双给体对敏化剂性能的影响, 本文结合密度泛函理论(DFT)及含时密度泛函理论(TD-DFT)对染料1~4的几何结构、 电子结构、 吸收光谱、 电化学性质、 电子复合程度以及半导体导带边缘的移动等进行了对比研究. 结果表明, 相比于经典的D-π-A型染料分子1, 在分子2~4(D-D-π-A型双给体染料) 中额外引入给体, 尽管对导带能级移动的改变不是很显著, 但是可以改变体系的共轭程度, 增加染料的光吸收强度. 重要的是, 额外给体的引入可以显著增加染料阳离子空穴-半导体之间的距离, 从而减缓注入电子与染料阳离子的复合; 在额外给体中引入杂原子可以使I₂聚集在染料外侧, 从而降低电解质在半导体表面的局域浓度, 进而减缓注入电子与电解质之间的复合速率. 因此, 通过在经典的D-π-A型染料上引入额外的电子给体构筑D-D-π-A型染料可以有效调节染料的光吸收、 电化学及电子复合等方面的性质, 是设计合成高性能染料的可行策略.     

Lithium-modulated conduction band edge shifts and charge-transfer dynamics in dye-sensitized solar cells based on a dicyanamide ionic liquid

Lithium ions are known for their potent function in modulating the energy alignment at the oxide semiconductor/dye/electrolyte interface in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), offering the opportunity to control the associated multichannel charge-transfer dynamics. Herein, by optimizing the lithium iodide content in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide-based ionic liquid electrolytes, we present a solvent-free DSC displaying an impressive 8.4% efficiency at 100 mW cm(-2) AM1.5G conditions. We further scrutinize the origins of evident impacts of lithium ions upon current density-voltage characteristics as well as photocurrent action spectra of DSCs based thereon. It is found that, along with a gradual increase of the lithium content in ionic liquid electrolytes, a consecutive diminishment of the open-circuit photovoltage arises, primarily owing to a noticeable downward movement of the titania conduction band edge. The conduction band edge displacement away from vacuum also assists the formation of a more favorable energy offset at the titania/dye interface, and thereby leads to a faster electron injection rate and a higher exciton dissociation yield as implied by transient emission measurements. We also notice that the adverse influence of the titania conduction band edge downward shift arising from lithium addition upon photovoltage is partly compensated by a concomitant suppression of the triiodide involving interfacial charge recombination.     

N3/Al2O3/N749交替组装结构拓宽准固态染料敏化太阳能电池光响应范围和界面修饰效果

研究了染料敏化太阳能电池(DSCs)中N3/Al₂O₃/N749交替组装结构的作用. 该结构使用Al₂O₃作为介质层吸附第二层染料, 可以有效拓宽DSCs的光响应范围, 提高电池的光电转化效率. UV-Vis 吸收光谱和单色光转换效率(IPCE)谱测试结果表明, 相对于单一染料, 使用交替组装结构的电池光响应范围变宽. 电流-电压(I-V)曲线结果表明, 该结构有效增加了DSCs 电池的光电转化效率, 从单一N3 和N749 染料的4.22%和3.09%增加到了5.75%, 分别增加了36%和86%. 为了研究该结构的作用机理, 本文对其界面修饰作用及界面电子过程进行了讨论. 暗电流测试结果表明交替组装结构可以有效阻止电荷复合过程; 电化学阻抗谱(EIS)结果表明在黑暗条件下, N3/Al₂O₃/N749结构可以提高界面电阻, 从而抑制电荷复合过程; 本文建立了等效电路模型, 并使用该模型讨论了交替组装结构的界面电子过程; 调制强度光电流谱(IMPS)和调制强度光电压谱(IMVS)的结果表明该结构可以提高电子寿命和改善电子扩散.     

多吡啶钌染料和有机染料共染色的钴基敏化太阳电池

具有低费米能级的外球电子媒介体的开发带来了染料敏化太阳电池性能的重大进展.针对这种快复合器件,通过精细的调控二氧化钛表面的染料包覆层结构来有效抑制界面电荷复合是目前该领域的一个重要研究主题.在本文中,利用高吸收系数的多吡啶钌染料与具有三维立体结构的有机给受体染料对二氧化钛薄膜进行共染色.基于邻菲罗啉钴氧化还原电对,相对于纯钌基染料染色的器件,瞬态吸收与瞬态光电压衰减测试表明具有三维立体结构的有机染料的引入不仅提高了电子注入效率,还同时减慢了二氧化钛中的电子与氧化态染料及电解质中的电子受体之间的复合反应速率,使器件开路电压从808 mV提升到883 mV.这种界面光活性层微结构变化诱导的电子注入效率的改善和电荷复合的减慢还过补偿了因薄膜光吸收减弱带来的不利影响,获得了更大的光电流输出,在模拟AM1.5太阳光辐照条件下器件功率转换效率从8.5%提升到10.3%.     

Hierarchically Structured ZnO Nanorods as an Efficient Photoanode for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Hierarchical ZnO nanorods composed of interconnected nanoparticles, which were synthesized by controlling precursor concentrations in a solvothermally assisted process, were exploited as photoanodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The as‐prepared hierarchical nanorods showed greatly enhanced light scattering compared to ZnO nanoparticles for boosting light harvesting while maintaining sufficient dye‐adsorption capability. The charge‐transfer characteristics were studied by electrochemical impedance measurements, and reduced electron recombination and longer electron lifetime were observed for the ZnO nanorods. Photovoltaic characterization demonstrated that DSCs utilizing the hierarchical nanorods significantly improved the overall conversion efficiency by 34 % compared to nanoparticle‐based DSCs.     

Role of electrolytes on charge recombination in dye-sensitized TiO(2) solar cell (1): the case of solar cells using the I(-)/I(3)(-) redox couple

Performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was investigated depending on the compositions of the electrolyte, i.e., the electrolyte with a different cation such as Li(+), tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA(+)), or 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium (DMPIm(+)) in various concentrations, with and without 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP), and with various concentrations of the I(-)/I(3)(-) redox couple. Current-voltage characteristics, electron lifetime, and electron diffusion coefficient were measured to clarify the effects of the constituents in the electrolyte on the charge recombination kinetics in the DSCs. Shorter lifetimes were found for the DSCs employing adsorptive cations of Li(+) and DMPIm(+) than for a less-adsorptive cation of TBA(+). On the other hand, the lifetimes were not influenced by the concentrations of the cations in the solutions. Under light irradiation, open-circuit voltages of DSCs decreased in the order of TBA(+)> DMPIm(+) > Li(+), and also decreased with the increase of [Li(+)]. The decreases of open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) were attributed to the positive shift of the TiO(2) conduction band potential (CBP) by the surface adsorption of DMPIm(+) and Li(+). These results suggest that the difference of the free energies between that of the electrons in the TiO(2) and of I(3)(-) has little influence on the electron lifetimes in the DSCs. The shorter lifetime with the adsorptive cations was interpreted with the thickness of the electrical double layer formed by the cations, and the concentration of I(3)(-) in the layer, i.e., TBA(+) formed thicker double layer resulting in lower concentration of I(3)(-) on the surface of the TiO(2). The addition of 4-tert-butylpyridine (tBP) in the presence of Li(+) or TBA(+) showed no significant influence on the lifetime. The increase of V(oc) by the addition of tBP into the electrolyte containing Li(+) and the I(-)/I(3)(-) redox couple was mainly attributed to the shift of the CBP back to the negative potential by reducing the amount of adsorbed Li cations.     

Thieno[2,3-a]carbazole-based donor–π–acceptor organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

New donor–π–acceptor organic dyes K-1 and K-2 containing thieno[2,3-a]carbazole as an electron donor were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Photophysical and electrochemical properties of K-dyes were investigated. DSCs based on K-dyes showed a high conversion efficiency of 6.6–6.7% with a J_sc of 12.40–12.49 mA cm⁻² and a V_oc of 0.70–0.71 V. The molecular geometry calculation indicated that the existence of thienocarbazole donor in K-dyes enhanced the molecular planarity compared to the carbazole analogue dye MK-3. As a result, DSCs based on K-dyes showed high IPCEs, perhaps due to efficient intramolecular charge transfer and electron injection from excited dye to TiO₂ conduction band.     

SnO2 Transparent Printing Pastes from Powders for Photon Conversion in SnO2-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Tin oxide (SnO₂) is the most attractive alternative to titanium oxide (TiO₂) with the aim of identifying a more positive conduction band material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This study puts forward a protocol based on grinding, sonication, and centrifuge to generate transparent SnO₂ pastes to minimize light reflectance losses from the metal oxide. Under optimized conditions, a highly transparent film with substantially enhanced light penetration depth through active layer SnO₂ is realized for efficient light harvesting from two different commercially available powders (18 and 35 nm nanoparticle sizes). A ruthenium sensitizer ( B11 ) and two organic sensitizers ( NL3 and MK2 ) are shown to achieve higher or comparable photocurrent densities with SnO₂ relative to standard TiO₂-based DSCs. SnO₂-based DSCs show minimum recombination losses, comparable charge collection efficiencies, and minimal photovoltage losses relative to TiO₂ DSCs. Thus, the option of a transparent metal oxide, which can facilitate high photocurrents (>16 mA cm⁻² observed) and lower recombination rates than TiO₂ is an attractive material for DSC applications.     

Interface modification of 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminium with combined effects in quasi-solid dye-sensitized solar cells

In this paper, 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminium (Alq(3)) was used in interface modification of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Alq(3) was the first discovered interface modification material with combined effects of retarding charge recombination and F?rster resonant energy transfer (FRET). Results of dark current curve and AC impedance showed that Alq(3) could retard charge recombination in DSCs. I-V curves showed that conversion efficiency increased with Alq(3) modification. Besides the interface modification effect, it was discovered that Alq(3) also acted as energy relay dye with the FRET effect between itself and N3, which increased photoresponse and electron injection. The application of Alq(3) with combined effects opened a new door to explore more novel multi-functional interface modification materials to improve the performance of DSCs.     

Analysis of S2QA- charge recombination with the Arrhenius, Eyring and Marcus theories

The Q band of photosynthetic thermoluminescence, measured in the presence of a herbicide that blocks electron transfer from PSII, is associated with recombination of the S(2)Q(A)(-) charge pair. The same charge recombination reaction can be monitored with chlorophyll fluorescence. It has been shown that the recombination occurs via three competing routes of which one produces luminescence. In the present study, we measured the thermoluminescence Q band and the decay of chlorophyll fluorescence yield after a single turnover flash at different temperatures from spinach thylakoids. The data were analyzed using the commonly used Arrhenius theory, the Eyring rate theory and the Marcus theory of electron transfer. The fitting error was minimized for both thermoluminescence and fluorescence by adjusting the global, phenomenological constants obtained when the reaction rate theories were applied to the multi-step recombination reaction. For chlorophyll fluorescence, all three theories give decent fits. The peak position of the thermoluminescence Q band is correct by all theories but the form of the Q band is somewhat different in curves predicted by the three theories. The Eyring and Marcus theories give good fits for the decreasing part of the thermoluminescence curve and Marcus theory gives the closest fit for the rising part.