共吸附剂修饰TiO2薄膜电极

共吸附剂修饰纳晶TiO₂薄膜电极是目前染料敏化太阳电池研究的一个热点. 本文通过平带电势和电化学阻抗研究了二(3,3-二甲基丁基)次膦酸和鹅脱氧胆酸两种共吸附剂修饰对TiO₂薄膜电极的平带电势和电极表面钝化能力的影响及其在染料敏化太阳电池中的应用. 结果表明, 二(3,3-二甲基丁基)次膦酸能更有效地钝化TiO₂薄膜表面, 并使TiO₂薄膜平带电势负移. 电化学阻抗谱测试结果表明, 在染料敏化太阳电池中, 相对于鹅脱氧胆酸, 二(3,3-二甲基丁基)次膦酸能更显著地提高器件的电子寿命和开路电压.     

Ru(II)染料与聚3-甲基噻吩复合敏化纳米结构TiO2电极的光电化学研究

利用光电流作用谱、循环伏安等光电化学方法研究了染料RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA (L＝2,2'-bipydine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)与聚3-甲基噻吩(P3MT)复合敏化电极的光电化学性质. RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA/P3MT复合敏化TiO₂纳米晶多孔膜电极比染料RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA敏化TiO₂纳米结构电极的光电转换效率大幅度提高. 复合敏化电极中存在p-n异质结有效地抑制了电子的反向复合, 减少了电子的损失.     

Ru(II)染料与聚3-甲基噻吩复合敏化纳米结构TiO2电极的光电化学研究

利用光电流作用谱、循环伏安等光电化学方法研究了染料RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA (L＝2,2'-bipydine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid)与聚3-甲基噻吩(P3MT)复合敏化电极的光电化学性质. RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA/P3MT复合敏化TiO₂纳米晶多孔膜电极比染料RuL₂(SCN)₂: 2TBA敏化TiO₂纳米结构电极的光电转换效率大幅度提高. 复合敏化电极中存在p-n异质结有效地抑制了电子的反向复合, 减少了电子的损失.     

长链双烷基次膦酸作为共吸附剂修饰TiO_2光阳极

对TiO2/染料/电解质界面进行修饰是提高染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)性能的有效手段,其中引入共吸附剂有机小分子和染料共同吸附在TiO2表面是一种简单有效提高DSC性能的方法.本文合成了长链的双正十二烷基次膦酸(DDdPA)作为染料的共吸附剂应用于染料敏化太阳电池.通过红外光谱(FT-IR)表征DDdPA在TiO2表面的吸附;借助电化学阻抗谱(EIS)及强度调制光电流谱(IMPS)/强度调制光电压谱(IMVS)等技术表征了电子的传输与复合动力学过程.研究发现,DDdPA可以很好地与染料共同吸附在TiO2表面;与二(3,3-二甲基丁基)次膦酸(DINHOP)相比,DDdPA的引入可以更好地抑制TiO2/染料/电解质界面处的电子复合;在优化浓度配比下,DDdPA的引入有效提高了器件的电子寿命,使TiO2导带边负移约30 mV,最终使器件的开路电压提高了47 mV,光电转换效率提升约10%.     

香豆素343敏化TiO2纳米粒子光致电子转移的荧光和拉曼光谱

通过对香豆素343(C343)染料敏化TiO₂纳米粒子光致电子转移的荧光和拉曼光谱特性的研究表明,C343染料敏化TiO₂纳米粒子稳态吸收光谱和稳态荧光光谱的红移归因于从被吸附的C343染料分子激发态和C343/TiO₂复合物到TiO₂纳米粒子导带的光致电子转移. 由时间分辨荧光光谱确定了C343染料敏化TiO₂纳米粒子的逆向电子转移速率常数为τ₁=31 ps. C343 染料敏化TiO₂纳米粒子体系拉曼光谱的研究表明, 被吸附在界面处的染料分子主链碳键的伸缩振动和碳环的呼吸运动的振动模式对超快界面光致电子转移有着重要的促进作用.     

骨架结构多孔TiO2薄膜增强染料敏化太阳能电池性能

以空心球状TiO₂为基体、以片状TiO₂为骨架,采用刮刀法制备了染料敏化太阳能电池的多孔TiO₂光阳极薄膜。光电转化效率测试结果表明,当作为骨架支撑材料的片状TiO₂含量为20wt%时,光阳极薄膜组装成太阳能电池的光电转化效率达到最高值4.53%,比商业P₂₅制备的无孔无骨架TiO₂薄膜电池(4.06%)及无骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜电池(4.17%)的性能均有显著提高。当片状TiO₂的最佳含量为20wt%电池薄膜厚度为33μm时,太阳能电池光电转化效率进一步提升为7.06%。光电性能增强的原因是骨架结构有利于快速传输电子并增大染料吸附量。本研究通过设计制备具有骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜为提高染料敏化太阳能电池性能提供了新的思路。     

染料敏化稀土离子修饰二氧化钛纳米晶电极的光电化学性质

制备了N3染料敏化的稀土离子表面修饰二氧化钛纳米晶电极. 由于在新电极表面形成了一个势垒, 这个势垒可以有效地抑制电极表面的电荷复合, 因此改善了电极的光电转化性质. 其中N3染料敏化Yb³⁺离子修饰TiO₂电极在73.1 mW/cm²白光照射下的光电转化效率比TiO₂电极增大了15%.     

骨架结构多孔TiO2薄膜增强染料敏化太阳能电池性能

以空心球状TiO₂为基体、以片状TiO₂为骨架,采用刮刀法制备了染料敏化太阳能电池的多孔TiO₂光阳极薄膜。光电转化效率测试结果表明,当作为骨架支撑材料的片状TiO₂含量为20wt%时,光阳极薄膜组装成太阳能电池的光电转化效率达到最高值4.53%,比商业P25制备的无孔无骨架TiO₂薄膜电池(4.06%)及无骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜电池(4.17%)的性能均有显著提高。当片状TiO₂的最佳含量为20wt%电池薄膜厚度为33 μm时,太阳能电池光电转化效率进一步提升为7.06%。光电性能增强的原因是骨架结构有利于快速传输电子并增大染料吸附量。本研究通过设计制备具有骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜为提高染料敏化太阳能电池性能提供了新的思路。     

电化学阻抗谱研究染料/Al2O3交替组装结构的光伏特性及作用机理

使用Al₂O₃和N3染料制备了一种交替组装的结构, 该结构能够提高染料敏化太阳能电池(DSCs)的开路电压(V_oc), 短路电流(J_sc)和转换效率(η). 为了研究(染料/Al₂O₃)交替组装结构的作用机理, 使用电化学阻抗谱技术分析了电池的界面电阻. 分析结果表明, 随着交替组装结构中(染料/Al₂O₃)单元的增加, 光阳极/染料/电解质界面的电阻降低, 电池性能随之提高. 基于电化学阻抗谱分析结果, 建立了一系列的等效电路模型, 从理论上解释了(染料/Al₂O₃)交替组装结构的作用机理.     

二氧化钛多孔纳米片在染料敏化太阳电池中的应用

运用连续吸附反应法和化学腐蚀-沉积法,用ZnO/FTO（氟掺杂氧化锡）多孔纳米片为模板,制备了TiO₂/FTO多孔纳米片。研究了吸附次数对形貌、光散射性能和染料敏化太阳电池性能的影响。最佳吸附次数为30,由此得到的太阳能电池的效率、短路电流密度J_sc、开路电压V_oc和填充因子FF分别为：5.57%、9.26mA·cm^-2、0.835V和72.04%。这个效率略高于P₂₅（5.32%）,但远高于ZnO（2.41%）。     

Recent progress in interface modification for dye-sensitized solar cells

Interface modification on the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) is one of the most effective approaches to suppress the charge recombination, improve electron injection and transportation, and thus ameliorate the conversion efficiency and stability of DSCs. Conventional research focusing on the photoanodes interface modification before sensitization in dye-sensitized solar cells has been carried out and reviewed. However, recent studies showed that post-modification after sensitization of the TiO₂ electrode also plays a significant role on the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface. This post-modification using the immersing method could deprotonate dye molecules, prohibit the dye aggregation and retard the recombination reaction. As a result, it has great influence on the devices’ photovoltaic performance. This interface modification could also provide an approach to broaden the response of the solar spectrum by introducing an alternative assembling structure. An in-situ meaning of using a co-adsorbent is employed to modify the interface in the DSCs, which could retard the aggregation of the dye molecules and enhance the conversion efficiency. In addition, electrolyte additives can be used to modify the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface through some unique mechanisms. Based on the background of interface modification of photoanodes before sensitization, this review introduces various interface modifications after sensitization of dye-sensitized solar cells and their mechanisms.     

SrTiO3/TiO2 Hybridstructure as Photoanode in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell

In dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the charge recombination at the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface greatly influences the photoelectron conversion efficiency. Hybrid semiconductor materials with matched band potentials are designed to reduce the charge recombination. In this study, SrTiO₃/TiO₂ hybridstructure was synthesized by using TiO₂ nanoparticles as template in a hydrothermal, showing a negative shift in the flat band potential. The DSSC with the SrTiO₃/TiO₂ anode exhibits an increased photovoltage and a reduced photocurrent. The suppression of charge recombination at the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface was observed in the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, causing an improvement in the photovoltage. However, the SrTiO₃/TiO₂ system shows an obstructed electrons injection from the dye to SrTiO₃/TiO₂, limiting the photocurrent performance. The photoelectrochemical properties of the SrTiO₃/TiO₂ system are discussed in detail herein.     

Effect of Surface Protonation on Device Performance and Dye Stability of Dye-sensitized TiO2 Solar Cell

A flat thin TiO₂ film was employed as the photo-electrode of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), on which only a geometrical mono-layer of dye was attached. The effect of sur-face protonation by HCl chemical treatment on the performance of DSSCs was studied. The results showed that the short-circuit current Jsc increased significantly upon the HCl treatment, while the open-circuit voltage Voc decreased slightly. Compared to the untreated DSSC, the Jsc and energy conversion efficiency was increased by 31% and 25%, respectively, for the 1 mol/L HCl treated cell. TiO₂ surface protonation improved electronic coupling between the chemisorbed dye and the TiO₂ surface, resulting in an enhanced electron in-jection. The decreased open-circuit voltage after TiO₂ surface protonation was mainly due to the TiO₂ conduction band edge downshift and was partially caused by increased electron recombination with the electrolyte. In situ Raman degradation study showed that the dye stability was improved after the TiO₂ surface protonation. The increased dye stability was contributed by the increased electron injection and electron back reaction with the electrolyte under the open-circuit condition.     

Effects of Coverage,Water, and Defects on Catechol/TiO2 Interface

Catechol adsorbed on TiO₂ is one of the simplest models to explore the relevant properties of dye-sensitized solar cells. However, the effects of water and defects on the electronic levels and the excitonic properties of the catechol/TiO₂ interface have been rarely explored. Here, we investigate four catechol/TiO₂ interfaces aiming to study the influence of coverage, water, and defects on the electronic levels and the excitonic properties of the catechol/TiO₂ interface through the first-principles many-body Green's function theory. We find that the adsorption of catechol on the rutile (110) surface increases the energies of both the TiO₂ valence band maximum and conduction band minimum by approximately 0.7 eV. The increasing coverage and the presence of water can reduce the optical absorption of charge-transfer excitons with maximum oscillator strength. Regarding the reduced hydroxylated TiO₂ substrate, the conduction band minimum decreases greatly, resulting in a sub-bandgap of 2.51 eV. The exciton distributions in the four investigated interfaces can spread across several unit cells, especially for the hydroxylated TiO₂ substrate. Although the hydroxylated TiO₂ substrate leads to a lower open-circuit voltage, it may increase the separation between photogenerated electrons and holes and may therefore be beneficial for improving the photovoltaic efficiency by controlling its concentration. Our results may provide guidance for the design of highly efficient solar cells in future.     

Enhanced photovoltaic characterization and charge transport of TIO2 nanoparticles/nanotubes composite photoanode based on indigo carmine dye-sensitized solar cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have established themselves as an alternative to conventional solar cells owing to their remarkably high power conversion efficiency, longtime stability and low-cost production. DSSCs composed of a dyed oxide semiconductor photoanode, a redox electrolyte and a counter electrode. In these devices, conversion efficiency is achieved by ultra-fast injection of an electron from a photo excited dye into the conduction band of metal oxide followed by subsequent dye regeneration and holes transportation to the counter electrode. The energy conversion efficiency of DSSC is to be dependent on the morphology and structure of the dye adsorbed metal oxide photoanode. Worldwide considerable efforts of DSSCs have been invested in morphology control of photoanode film, synthesis of stable optical sensitizers and improved ionic conductivity electrolytes. In the present investigation, a new composite nano structured photoanodes were prepared using TiO₂ nano tubes (TNTs) with TiO₂ nano particles (TNPs). TNPs were synthesized by sol–gel method and TNTs were prepared through an alkali hydrothermal transformation. Working photoanodes were prepared using five pastes of TNTs concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 90, and 100 % with TNPs. The DSSCs were fabricated using Indigo carmine dye as photo sensitizer and PMII (1-propyl-3-methylimmidazolium iodide) ionic liquid as electrolyte. The counter electrode was prepared using Copper sulfide. The structure and morphology of TNPs and TNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopes (TEM and SEM). The photocurrent efficiency is measured using a solar simulator (100 mW/cm²). The prepared composite TNTs/TNPs photoanode could significantly improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells owing to its synergic effects, i.e. effective dye adsorption mainly originated from TiO₂ nanoparticles and rapid electron transport in one-dimensional TiO₂ nanotubes. The results of the present investigation suggested that the DSSC based on 10 % TNTs/TNPs showed better photovoltaic performance than cell made pure TiO₂ nanoparticles. The highest energy-conversion efficiency of 2.80 % is achieved by composite TNTs (10 %)/TNPs film, which is 68 % higher than that pure TNPs film and far larger than that formed by bare TNTs film (94 %). The charge transport and charge recombination behaviors of DSSCs were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectra and the results showed that composite TNTs/TNPs film-based cell possessed the lowest transfer resistances and the longest electron lifetime. Hence, it could be concluded that the composite TNTs/TNPs photoanodes facilitate the charge transport and enhancing the efficiencies of DSSCs.     

Performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on various sensitizers applied on TiO2-Nb2O5 core/shell photoanode structure

The present investigation described the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on various sensitizers applied on TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ core/shell photoanode film. The novel photoanodes were prepared using composite of TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs) and TiO₂ nanorods (TNRs) as core (TNPRs) layer with Nb₂O₅ shell coating. As well, tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), a blocking layer applied over the core/shell film. The DSSCs were fabricated based on various sensitizers namely zinc phthalocyanine, indoline, indigo carmine, zinc porphyrin, N719, coumarin NKX-2700, polymer dye, quantum dots (QDs), perylene and squaraine. The I–V characteristics of the DSSCs, photocurrent density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and photoconversion efficiency (PCE) were determined under illumination of AM 1.5 G. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis is carried out to study the charge transport and life-time of charge carriers at photoanode/dye/electrolyte interface of the DSSCs. The I–V and EIS results explicated that the core/shell with blocking layers were able to alleviate the electron transport and suppressed charge recombination at photoanode/dye/electrolyte interface of the DSSCs. Concerning the sensitizers, PCE of the DSSCs exemplify the order N719 > zinc porphyrin > coumarin NKX-2700 > indoline > squaraine > QDs > zinc phthalocyanine > perylene > polymer dye > indigo carmine dye. The results of the present work demonstrated that among the sensitizers studied, N719 showed the highest PCE and fill factor. Besides, the metal-free organic sensitizers (coumarin NKX-2700 and indoline) exhibited comparable PCE as compared to N719.     

Effects of Dye‐Adsorption Solvent on the Performances of the Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Black Dye

The effects of the dye‐adsorption solvent on the performances of the dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on black dye have been investigated. The highest conversion efficiency (10.6 %) was obtained in the cases for which 1‐PrOH and the mixed solvent of EtOH and tBuOH (3:1 v/v) were employed as dye‐adsorption solvents. The optimized value for the dielectric constant of the dye‐adsorption solvent was found to be around 20. The DSSCs that used MeOH as a dye‐adsorption solvent showed inferior solar‐cell performance relative to the DSSCs that used EtOH, 1‐PrOH, 2‐PrOH, and 1‐BuOH. Photo‐ and electrochemical measurements of black dye both in solution and adsorbed onto the TiO₂ surface revealed that black dye aggregates at the TiO₂ surface during the adsorption process in the case for MeOH. Both the shorter electron lifetime in the TiO₂ photoelectrode and the greater resistance in the TiO₂–dye–elecrolyte interface, attributed to the dye aggregation at the TiO₂ surface, cause the decrease in the solar‐cell performance of the DSSC that used MeOH as a dye adsorption solvent.     

Performance of CeO2–TiO2-admixed photoelectrode for natural dye-sensitized solar cell

Extracts from roots of Beta vulgaris were used as natural sensitizers of a wide-bandgap semiconductor (CeO₂–TiO₂) in photoelectrochemical solar cells. The natural dye, adsorbed onto the semiconductor surface, absorbs visible light and promotes electron transfer across the dye/semiconductor interface. We have applied CeO₂–TiO₂ to natural dye sensitizer solar cells as a photoelectrode to reduce the charge recombination rate by providing energy barrier at the interface between the photoanode and electrolyte which offers an improvement of photovoltaic efficiency. Short-circuit current density (J _sc) and open-circuit voltages (V _oc) of 9.0 mA cm^?2 and 680 mV, respectively, were obtained, and an effective energy conversion efficiency of 3.5?% was achieved. This simple and cheap technique of cell preparation opens up a perspective of commercial feasibility for inexpensive and environment-friendly dye cells.     

高相转变温度的离子凝胶电解质基准固态染料敏化太阳电池

染料敏化太阳电池(DSC)以其低价、高效等优势, 成为学术界和工业界的研究热点. 传统液态电解质由于易挥发、易泄漏等问题, 导致基于液态电解质的电池难以保持长期稳定, 影响光伏技术的应用. 本文合成了N,N'-1,5-戊二基双月桂酰胺, 将其作为有机小分子胶凝剂(LMOG)胶凝离子液体电解质(ILE)制备了离子凝胶电解质(IGE)并组装成准固态电池(QS-DSCs). 差示扫描量热测试显示该凝胶电解质的相转变温度(T_gel)为104.7℃, 具有良好的本征热稳定性.利用循环伏安法、电化学阻抗谱、调制光电压/光电流谱分别研究了液态电池和准固态电池内部电子传输和复合动力学过程. 结果表明, 凝胶电解质的三维网络结构加速了TiO₂光阳极/电解质界面电子与电解质中I₃^-的复合过程, 使电子寿命降低, 导致准固态电池的光电转换效率略低于液态电池. 在AM1.5 (100 mW·cm^-2)及50℃条件下的加速老化测试结果显示, 持续老化1000 h后其光电转换效率(η)无衰减,而液态电池的光电转换效率衰减为初始值的86%, 表明准固态电池具有良好的光热稳定性.