Enhancing the Performance of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with a Gold‐Nanoflowers Box |
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Authors: | Lu Zhang Prof Zhong‐Sheng Wang |
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Institution: | Department of Chemistry, Lab of Advanced materials, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China |
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Abstract: | To improve the electron collection, electron lifetime, and light‐harvesting efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells simultaneously, Au nanoflowers were prepared and used to cover the entire TiO2 film. Deposition of Au nanoflowers around the TiO2 film formed a light‐scattering “box” that covered the entire TiO2 film. Compared with a light‐scattering layer that only covers the top surface of TiO2, the Au‐nanoflowers box exhibited better light‐harvesting efficiency due to omnidirectional light scattering, faster electron transport (attributed to the formation of electron channels between the metallic Au nanoflowers and the electron‐collection electrode), and slower charge recombination. As a consequence, the short‐circuit photocurrent and open‐circuit photovoltage were both enhanced significantly, which improved the power conversion efficiency from 8.12 to 10.91 % (34 %) when an Au‐nanoflowers box was wrapped around the photoanode. |
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Keywords: | charge recombination dye-sensitized solar cells electron transport light scattering nanostructures |
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