A novel photoanode architecture of dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 hollow sphere/nanorod array double-layer film

A novel TiO(2) double-layer (DL) film consisting of TiO(2) hollow spheres (HSs) as overlayer and single-crystalline TiO(2) nanorod arrays (RAs) as underlayer was designed as the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This new-typed TiO(2) HS/RA DL film could significantly improve the efficiency of DSSCs owing to its synergic effects, i.e. the relatively large specific surface area of TiO(2) HSs for effective dye adsorption, enhanced light harvesting capability originated from TiO(2) RA film, and rapid interfacial electron transport in one-dimensional TiO(2) nanorod arrays. The overall energy-conversion efficiency of 4.57% was achieved by the formation of TiO(2) DL film, which is 16% higher than that formed by TiO(2) HS film and far larger than that formed by TiO(2) RA film (η=0.99%). The light absorption and interfacial electron transport, which play important roles in the efficiency of DSSCs, were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra and electrochemical impedance spectra.     

Hydrothermal fabrication of quasi-one-dimensional single-crystalline anatase TiO2 nanostructures on FTO glass and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

One-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures are desirable for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), since they can provide direct pathways for the rapid collection of photogenerated electrons, which could improve the photovoltaic performance of the device. Quasi-1D single-crystalline anatase TiO(2) nanostructures have been successfully prepared on transparent, conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass with a growth direction of [101] through a facile hydrothermal approach. The influences of the initial titanium n-butoxide (TBT) concentration, hydrothermal reaction temperature, and time on the length of quasi-1D anatase TiO(2) nanostructures and on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs have been investigated in detail. A power conversion efficiency of 5.81% has been obtained based on the prepared TiO(2) nanostructure photoelectrode 6.7 μm thick and commercial N719 dye, with a short-circuit current density of 13.3 mA cm(-2) , an open-circuit voltage of 810 mV, and a fill factor of 0.54.     

Dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells: fabrication and electronic characterization

TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) with large aspect ratio and large specific surface area were prepared from P25 (Nippon Aerosil) and applied to dye-sensitized titanium dioxide solar cells (DSSCs). Optimization of fabrication conditions, i.e., pH of the starting paste, sintering temperature for the TiO2 electrodes, electrolyte compositions of DSSCs gave the high conversion efficiency with improved open circuit voltage (V(oc)) and fill factor (FF) when compared to DSSCs made of P25. The evaluation of dye adsorption and the photo-injected electron transport such as electron diffusion coefficient (D) and electron lifetime (tau) in TNTs electrodes revealed that the higher efficiency resulted from increase of electron density with keeping much longer tau in TNTs electrodes than in P25 electrodes.     

Hierarchical TiO(2) flowers built from TiO(2) nanotubes for efficient Pt-free based flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel hierarchical TiO(2) flower consisting of anatase TiO(2) nanotubes on a Ti foil substrate has been prepared via a mild hydrothermal reaction of TiO(2) nanoparticles/Ti foil. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC based on hierarchical TiO(2) flowers/Ti (7.2%) is much higher than that of TiO(2) nanoparticle/Ti (6.63%) because of its superior light scattering ability and fast electron transport. Moreover, full flexible DSSC based on the novel hierarchical TiO(2) flowers/Ti foil photoelectrode and electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on indium tin oxide-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (ITO-PET) counter electrode shows a significant power conversion efficiency of 6.26%, accompanying a short-circuit current density of 11.96 mA cm(-2), an open-circuit voltage of 761 mV and a fill factor of 0.69.     

An efficient 3C-silicon carbide/titania nanocomposite photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cell

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are fabricated using a novel 3C-SiC/TiO(2) nanocomposite as a photoelectrode to enhance the power conversion efficiency. Compared with a pristine nanocrystalline TiO(2) cell, a DSSC based on a 3C-SiC (0.04 wt%)/TiO(2) nanocomposite photoelectrode shows ~115% increase in power conversion efficiency.     

Effect of the rutile content on the photovoltaic performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells composed of mixed-phase TiO2 photoelectrodes

The effect of the rutile content on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of mixed-phase TiO(2) photoelectrode has been investigated. The mixed-phase TiO(2) particles with varied amounts of rutile, relative to anatase phase, are synthesized by an in situ method where the concentration of sulfate ion is used as a phase-controlling parameter in the formation of TiO(2) using TiCl(4) hydrolysis. The surface area (S(BET)) varies from 33 (pure rutile) to 165 (pure anatase) m(2) g(-1). Generally, both the current density (J(sc)) and photo-conversion efficiency (η) decrease as the rutile content increases. The incorporation of rod-shaped rutile particles causes low uptake of dye due to the reduced surface area, as well as slow electron transport in less efficiently-stacked structure. However, maximum J(sc) (14.63 mA cm(-2)) and η (8.69%) appear when relatively low rutile content (16%) is employed. The reported synergistic effect by the efficient interparticle electron transport from rutile to anatase seems to overbalance the decrease of surface area when small amount of rutile particles is incorporated.     

Nanoparticle and nanorod TiO2 composite photoelectrodes with improved performance

A novel nanoparticle-nanorod composite TiO(2) photoelectrode is fabricated. A 3.20% efficiency is achieved by using a 2.1 μm-thick as-prepared photoelectrode, which is about 3 times of that obtained by a nanorod array electrode (1.05%). The results demonstrate that the composite nanostructure can take advantage of both fast electron transport (nanorod) and high surface area (nanoparticle).     

Correlation between dispersion properties of TiO2 colloidal sols and photoelectric characteristics of TiO2 films

TiO2 film for use as dye-sensitized solar cell was prepared using the TiO2 colloidal sols (unpeptized sol and peptized sol). The optical properties and photocurrent-voltage characteristics of the resultant films were investigated. The optical transmittance of TiO2 thin film prepared from the peptized colloidal sol was over 90%, while that of TiO2 film from the unpeptized sol was under 80%. The TiO2 photoelectrode prepared from the peptized colloidal sol showed low photoelectric conversion efficiency (eta), 1.30%, whereas the efficiency of photoelectrode from the unpeptized sol was 2.21%. The high optical transmittance and low conversion efficiency of TiO2 film from the peptized sol are discussed in terms of dense microstructure due to the drying nature of well-dispersed colloidal sol.     

Microstructure design of nanoporous TiO2 photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized solar cell modules

The optimization of dye-sensitized solar cells, especially the design of nanoporous TiO2 film microstructure, is an urgent problem for high efficiency and future commercial applications. However, up to now, little attention has been focused on the design of nanoporous TiO2 microstructure for a high efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell modules. The optimization and design of TiO2 photoelectrode microstructure are discussed in this paper. TiO2 photoelectrodes with three different layers, including layers of small pore size films, larger pore size films, and light-scattering particles on the conducting glass with the desirable thickness, were designed and investigated. Moreover, the photovoltaic properties showed that the different porosities, pore size distribution, and BET surface area of each layer have a dramatic influence on short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor of the modules. The optimization and design of TiO2 photoelectrode microstructure contribute a high efficiency of DSC modules. The photoelectric conversion efficiency around 6% with 15 x 20 cm2 modules under illumination of simulated AM1.5 sunlight (100 mW/cm2) and 40 x 60 cm2 panels with the same performance tested outdoor have been achieved by our group.     

Nanocrystalline electrodes based on nanoporous-walled WO3 nanotubes for organic-dye-sensitized solar cells

Nanoporous-walled tungsten oxide (WO(3)) nanotubes (NTs), which had a more positive conduction band edge level compared to that of TiO(2), were applied to various organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The dye-sensitized WO(3) NTs displayed photosensitization for the organic dyes whose lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level was relatively positive to the conventional TiO(2) electrode and, thus, not applicable for electron injection to the TiO(2) electrode. Electron transport time and electron lifetime for the WO(3) electrode in the DSSCs were investigated. In comparison to the DSSCs based on TiO(2), SnO(2), and In(2)O(3), the WO(3) DSSCs displayed the longest lifetime. On the other hand, non-diffusion-like electron transport may be an issue to apply WO(3) for the DSSCs.     

Effective enhancement of the performance of black dye based dye-sensitized solar cells by metal oxide surface modification of the TiO2 photoelectrode

Effective enhancement of the performance of black dye based dye-sensitized solar cells has been achieved by MgO or Al(2)O(3) surface modification of the TiO(2) photoelectrode. The conversion efficiency was improved from 10.4% to 10.8% due to the blocking effect of the thin overlayer at the TiO(2) surface.     

Charge transport versus recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells employing nanocrystalline TiO2 and SnO2 films

We report a comparison of charge transport and recombination dynamics in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing nanocrystalline TiO(2) and SnO(2) films and address the impact of these dynamics upon photovoltaic device efficiency. Transient photovoltage studies of electron transport in the metal oxide film are correlated with transient absorption studies of electron recombination with both oxidized sensitizer dyes and the redox couple. For all three processes, the dynamics are observed to be 2-3 orders of magnitude faster for the SnO(2) electrode. The origins of these faster dynamics are addressed by studies correlating the electron recombination dynamics to dye cations with chronoamperometric studies of film electron density. These studies indicate that the faster recombination dynamics for the SnO(2) electrodes result both from a 100-fold higher electron diffusion constant at matched electron densities, consistent with a lower trap density for this metal oxide relative to TiO(2), and from a 300 mV positive shift of the SnO(2) conduction band/trap states density of states relative to TiO(2). The faster recombination to the redox couple results in an increased dark current for DSSCs employing SnO(2) films, limiting the device open-circuit voltage. The faster recombination dynamics to the dye cation result in a significant reduction in the efficiency of regeneration of the dye ground state by the redox couple, as confirmed by transient absorption studies of this reaction, and in a loss of device short-circuit current and fill factor. The importance of this loss pathway was confirmed by nonideal diode equation analyses of device current-voltage data. The addition of MgO blocking layers is shown to be effective at reducing recombination losses to the redox electrolyte but is found to be unable to retard recombination dynamics to the dye cation sufficiently to allow efficient dye regeneration without resulting in concomitant losses of electron injection efficiency. We conclude that such a large acceleration of electron dynamics within the metal oxide films of DSSCs may in general be detrimental to device efficiency due to the limited rate of dye regeneration by the redox couple and discuss the implications of this conclusion for strategies to optimize device performance.     

水热法可控合成二氧化钛纳米晶及其在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用

本文报道了水热法可控合成二氧化钛纳米晶及其在染料敏化太阳能电池中的应用.选择合适的有机碱胶化剂,能很好地控制二氧化钛纳米晶的生长,形成不同形貌和粒径的锐钛矿型二氧化钛纳米晶颗粒.染料敏化太阳能电池光电性能测试结果表明,以四乙基氢氧化铵为胶化剂合成的边长为8～13nm的正方形二氧化钛纳米晶构成的光阳极光电性能优于以四丁基氢氧化铵为胶化剂合成的边长为7～10nm的正方形二氧化钛纳米晶以及长18～35nm,宽10～18nm的长方形二氧化钛纳米晶构成的光阳极.用较高浓度的四甲基氢氧化铵胶化剂能合成球形或椭球形亚微米级二氧化钛颗粒,以其为散射中心在光阳极中构建散射层,染料敏化太阳能电池的光电转换效率能由6.77%提高到8.18%.     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on multiwalled carbon nanotube-titania/titania bilayer structure photoelectrode

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-TiO(2) nanocomposite as a light scattering layer. Morphology of the MWCNT-TiO(2) film was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FESEM and TEM images demonstrate that MWCNTs and TiO(2) nanoparticles can be dispersed with chitosan. Internal resistance in the DSSC was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS results reveal a decrease in the charge resistance of electrolyte/dye/MWCNT-TiO(2)/TiO(2) interface with increasing MWCNT content up to 3 wt% which leads to an improvement in the photovoltaic performance. Compare with a nanocrystalline TiO(2) single-layer cell, the DSSC based on the MWCNT (3 wt%)-TiO(2)/TiO(2) bilayer structure photoelectrode shows ~100% increase in solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency, which is attributed to the inclusion of MWCNTs in TiO(2) matrix.     

Double-layer coating of SrCO3/TiO2 on nanoporous TiO2 for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Surface modification plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), but the reported surface treatments are in general superior to the untreated TiO(2) but inferior to the typical TiCl(4)-treated TiO(2) in terms of solar cell performance. This work demonstrates a two-step treatment of the nanoporous titania surface with strontium acetate [Sr(OAc)(2)] and TiCl(4) in order, each step followed by sintering. An electronically insulating layer of SrCO(3) is formed on the TiO(2) surface via the Sr(OAc)(2) treatment and then a fresh TiO(2) layer is deposited on top of the SrCO(3) layer via the TiCl(4) treatment, corresponding to a double layer of Sr(OAc)(2)/TiO(2) coated on the TiO(2) surface. As compared to the typical TiCl(4)-treated DSSC, the Sr(OAc)(2)-TiCl(4) treated DSSC improves short-circuit photocurrent (J(sc)) by 17%, open-circuit photovoltage (V(oc)) by 2%, and power conversion efficiency by 20%. These results indicate that the Sr(OAc)(2)-TiCl(4) treatment is better than the often used TiCl(4) treatment for fabrication of efficient DSSCs. Charge density at open circuit and controlled intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy reveal that the two electrodes show almost same conduction band level but different electron diffusion coefficient and charge recombination rate constant. Owing to the blocking effect of the SrCO(3) layer on electron recombination with I(3)(-) ions, the charge recombination rate constant of the Sr(OAc)(2)-TiCl(4) treated DSSC is half that of the TiCl(4)-treated DSSC, accounting well for the difference of their V(oc). The improved J(sc) is also attributed to the middle SrCO(3) layer, which increases dye adsorption and may improve charge separation efficiency due to the blocking effect of SrCO(3) on charge recombination.     

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%.     

TiO(2) porous electrodes with hierarchical branched inner channels for charge transport in viscous electrolytes.

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) photoelectrodes with micro/nano hierarchical branched inner channels have been prepared by an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technique and assembled to form dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Excellent penetration of ionic-liquid electrolytes and enhanced light harvesting in the longer wavelength region are realized within the composite-structure electrode, thus a better fill factor (ff) of 75.3 % and higher conversion efficiency (eta) of 7.1 % are obtained for viscous ionic-liquid electrolytes compared to pure nanostructured films. Hierarchical branched channels in the photoanodes can efficiently improve the transport properties of redox-active species in viscous electrolytes, which is demonstrated by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The incident monochromatic photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) shows that enhanced light scattering in the composite film is of benefit for light harvesting and thus for solar energy conversion efficiency.     

原位制备氧化钛/氮掺杂石墨烯空心球光催化剂及其光催化CO2还原性能研究

利用光催化技术将二氧化碳转化为化学燃料是缓解温室效应以及能源危机的理想途径之一.因此,开发高效的光催化剂是当务之急.氧化钛由于具有优异的物理化学稳定性、成本低廉、无毒性以及环境友好等优点,近年来被广泛关注.此外,空心球结构光催化剂具有短的载流子扩散距离、良好的光散射性以及较大的比表面积等优点,从而成为光催化二氧化碳还原最有潜力的候选材料.但纯的氧化钛空心球由于较快的光生载流子复合速率从而导致低的光催化效率.因此,为了应对这一挑战,我们尝试在氧化钛空心球表面负载助催化剂用以促进光生载流子的分离,从而提高光催化二氧化碳还原转换效率.在各种助催化剂中,贵金属被证明是有效的.然而,高成本以及稀缺性限制了贵金属的广泛应用.因此,有必要设计成本低廉的助催化剂替代品.石墨烯以其优异的导电性、较大的功函数以及来源丰富而备受关注.当石墨烯与n型半导体光催化剂结合在一起时,能够显著促进光生电子从半导体光催化剂向石墨烯的定向迁移,从而有效地抑制光生电子与空穴的复合.当石墨烯中掺杂氮元素时,石墨烯骨架中的电子密度会进一步提高,同时,氮原子中的孤对电子更加有利于石墨烯骨架中的电子传输.此外,氮掺杂石墨烯中不同的氮位点(吡啶氮、吡咯氮和石墨氮)作为路易斯碱位点,能够用以二氧化碳分子的吸附以及活化.然而,迄今为止,最常用的制备半导体/氮掺杂石墨烯纳米复合光催化剂的方法是在氮掺杂石墨烯表面生长半导体光催化剂.所制备的光催化剂与氮掺杂石墨烯之间界面接触有限,不利于光生载流子的快速传递与分离.此外,助催化剂和光催化剂之间建立高质量的界面接触可以有效地抑制光生电子与空穴的复合.因此,有必要绕开传统制备方法的弊端,从而设计与光催化剂之间具有大的接触面积和紧密的界面接触以及具有丰富活性位点的高质量氮掺杂石墨烯助催化剂.本文提出了一种新的策略,以吡啶为氮掺杂石墨烯的前驱体,通过化学气相沉积方法在氧化钛空心球表面原位生长超薄氮掺杂石墨烯层(1～2层).此外,在高温状态下,吡啶分子脱氢生成具有优异扩散性质的脱氢吡啶自由基气相分子,随着反应的进行,氧化钛表面的每个纳米颗粒基元表面都能够与吡啶分子充分接触,从而保障两者之间大面积以及紧密的界面接触.光催化二氧化碳还原性能测试结果表明,优化后的氧化钛/氮掺杂石墨烯空心球纳米复合材料的二氧化碳光催化总转化率(一氧化碳、甲醇和甲烷的总产率)为18.11 μmol g-1 h-1,是空白氧化钛空心球的4.6倍和商业P25的10.7倍.高分辨透射电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱以及拉曼光谱结果表明,成功构建了氧化钛与氮掺杂石墨烯之间紧密接触的界面.同时,氮掺杂石墨烯的引入能够显著增强复合光催化剂的表面光热效应以及氧化钛与氮掺杂石墨烯界面肖特基势垒的形成均有助于促进光催化二氧化碳还原反应的进行.因此,本文为石墨烯基光助催化剂的原位构建提供了一种行之有效的策略.     

Kinetics of electron recombination of dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 nanorod arrays sensitized with different dyes

The performance and electron recombination kinetics of dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO(2) films consisting of one-dimensional nanorod arrays (NR-DSSCs) which are sensitized with dyes N719, C218 and D205, respectively, have been studied. It has been found that the best efficiency is obtained with the dye C218 based NR-DSSCs, benefiting from a 40% higher short-circuit photocurrent density. However, the open circuit photovoltage of the N719 based cell is 40 mV higher than that of the organic dye C218 and D205 based devices. Investigation of the electron recombination kinetics of the NR-DSSCs has revealed that the effective electron lifetime, τ(n), of the different dye based NR-DSSCs shows the sequence of C218 > D205 > N719. The higher V(oc) with the N719 based NR-DSSC is originated from the more negative energy level of the conduction band of the TiO(2) film. In addition, in comparison to the DSSCs with the conventional nanocrystalline particles based TiO(2) films, the NR-DSSCs have shown over two orders of magnitude higher τ(n) when employing N719 as the sensitizer. Nevertheless, the τ(n) of the DSSCs with the C218 based nanorod arrays is only ten-fold higher than that of the nanoparticles based devices. The remarkable characteristic of the dye C218 in suppressing the electron recombination of DSSCs is discussed.     

A strategy to increase the efficiency of the dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells operated by photoexcitation of dye-to-TiO2 charge-transfer bands

Dye-sensitized nanoporous TiO2 solar cells (DSSCs) can be classified into two types, namely, Type-I and Type-II. Type-I DSSCs are the DSSCs in which electrons are injected from the adsorbed dyes by photoexcitation of the dyes followed by electron injection from the excited dyes to TiO2 (pathway A). Type-II DSSCs are the DSSCs in which electrons are injected not only by pathway A but also by direct one-step electron injection from the dyes to TiO2 by photoexcitation of the dye-to-TiO2 charge-transfer (DTCT) bands (pathway B). The DSSCs employing catechol (Cat) or its derivatives as the sensitizers have been the typical examples of Type-II DSSCs. However, their solar energy-to-electricity conversion efficiencies (eta) have never exceeded 0.7%, and the external quantum efficiencies (EQE) at the absorption maximums of the DTCT bands have never exceeded 10%. We found that the attachment of electron-donating compounds such as (pyridin-4-yl)vinyl and (quinolin-4-yl)vinyl, respectively, to Cat (designated as Cat-v-P and Cat-v-Q, respectively) leads to 2- and 2.7-fold increases, respectively, in eta, driven by large increases in short circuit current (Jsc). The EQE increased from 8.5 to 30% at 400 nm upon changing from Cat to Cat-v-P, at which only the DTCT band absorbs. In the case of the Cat-v-Q-sensitized DSSC, even the eta obtained by exciting only the DTCT band was higher than 1%. Interestingly, the illumination of only the DTCT band resulted in the increase of fill factor from 62.6% to 72.3%. This paper provides for the first time an insight into the strategy to increase the eta values of Type-II DSSCs.