The Origin of Higher Open‐Circuit Voltage in Zn‐Doped TiO2 Nanoparticle‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells |
| |
| Authors: | Feng Zhu Panpan Zhang Dr. Xuejun Wu Prof. Limin Fu Prof. Jianping Zhang Prof. Dongsheng Xu |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China), Fax: (+86)?10‐62760360;2. Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872 (China) |
| |
| Abstract: | Zn‐doped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by a one‐step hydrothermal method. Detailed electrochemical measurements are undertaken to investigate the origin of the effect of Zn doping on the performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). It is found that incorporation of Zn2+ into an anatase lattice elevates the edge of the conduction band (CB) of the photoanodes and the Fermi level is shifted toward the CB edge, which contributes to the improvement in open‐circuit voltage (VOC). Charge‐density plots across the cell voltage further confirm the increase in the CB edge in DSSCs directly. Photocurrent and transient photovoltage measurements are employed to study transport and recombination dynamics. The electron recombination is accelerated at higher voltages close to the CB edge, thus leading to a negative effect on the VOC. |
| |
| Keywords: | electronic structure nanoparticles photochemistry photophysics semiconductors |
|
|
