染料敏化太阳能电池的TiO2光电极的制备及优化

讨论了染料敏化太阳能电池的TiO2光电极制备与优化工艺过程,这主要包括TiO2薄膜厚度的优化,利用TiCl4处理导电玻璃以及添加大粒子散射层.研究结果表明,当TiO2光阳极厚度为11μm时,电池的转换效率最高.添加TiO2大粒子散射层后,增强了光阳极对光的吸收,当大粒子散射层为4.4μm时,电池的光电性能最好.对TiO...     

Improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells with surface-treated TiO2 as a photoelectrode

We report on the effects of surface-modified TiO₂ on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TiO₂ surface was modified with Na₂CO₃ via a simple dip coating process and the modified TiO₂ was applied to photoelectrodes of DSSCs. By dipping of TiO₂ layer into aqueous Na₂CO₃ solution, the DSSC showed a power conversion efficiency of 9.98%, compared to that (7.75%) of the reference device without surface treatment. The UV–vis absorption spectra, the impedance spectra and the dark current studies revealed that the increase of all parameters was attributed to the enhanced dye adsorption, the prolonged electron lifetime and the reduced interfacial resistance.     

Synthesis and characterization of natural dye and counter electrode thin films with different carbon materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

This study aims to deal with the film of the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and the preparation, structure and characteristics of the extract of natural dye. This study adopts different commercial carbon materials such as black lead, carbon black and self-made TiO2-MWCNT compound nanoparticle as the film of the counter electrodes. Moreover, for the preparation of natural dyes, anthocyanins and chlorophyll dyes are extracted from mulberry and pomegranate respectively. Furthermore, the extracted anthocyanins and chlorophyll are blended into cocktail dye to complete the preparation of natural dye. Results show that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the single-layer TiO2-MWCNT counter electrode film and the cocktail dye of the DSSCs is 0.462%.     

Improvement in performances of dye-sensitized solar cell with SiO2-coated TiO2 photoelectrode

The pure TiO2 and the nano-porous SiO2-coated TiO2 (STO) films were deposited on the FTO substrates by spray technique for the application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). XRD pattern shows the pure TiO2 and STO films exhibits the same structure. We found that there is no much difference in dye absorption between the STO and the pure TiO2 films. The electrochemical impedance spectra reveal that insulating nature of the porous SiO2 increases surface resistance of the TiO2 film and supresses back transfer of the photogenerated electrons to the electrolyte. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) reveal that the surface morphology and the existence of SiO2 layer on the surface of the TiO2 films, respectively. The photoelectrochemical results show that the short-circuit photocurrent (J(SC)) increased from 16.73 mA cm(-2) to 18.31 mA cm(-2) and the open-circuit voltage (V(OC)) value changed from 0.71 V to 0.74 V for the STO films. The efficiency of cell has been greatly improved from 8.25 to 9.3%.     

Fabrication of micro-patterned TiO2 thin films incorporating Ag nanoparticles

A photosensitive TiO₂ thin film embedded with Ag nanoparticles has been prepared from a Ti(OBu)₄–acetylacetone solution, containing dispersed Ag nanoparticles, by the sol–gel method. UV–visible absorption spectra showed that the thin film obtained has two absorption bands, characteristic of the acetylacetone chelate rings and plasmon resonance from Ag nanoparticles. After the irradiation of UV light, the absorption band from the chelate rings almost disappeared, ascribed to structural changes associated with dissociation of the chelate rings. The thin film after the UV irradiation exhibited a broad absorption band in the IR spectrum, indicating that a Ti–O–Ti network was formed in the thin film. HRTEM and EDX spectra revealed that Ag nanoparticles were present and dispersed in the TiO₂ thin film. Micro-patterns of 50 μm dots have been fabricated by UV irradiation through a corresponding photomask, followed by leaching.     

Tunable synthesis of mesoporous titania with different morphologies for dye-sensitized solar cells

Different TiO₂ mesoporous structures, including core-shell spheres (CCSs) and micro-tubes (MTs), are synthesized through adjusting the pH of the solution using TiOSO₄ as titanium source in a hydrothermal route. TiO₂ CSSs with an average diameter of 1.3–3.5 μm exhibit excellent light scattering property and high specific surface area (177.63 m² g^?1). TiO₂ MTs show ultrahigh specific surface area of 276.03 m² g^?1. Dye-sensitized solar cell is fabricated using TiO₂ CSSs as the light scattering layer and TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) layer as the bottom layer. The efficiency of Cell-NPs + CSSs is up to 9.24% due to the good light scattering effect and excellent dye loading capacity. Furthermore, TiO₂ MTs are introduced to form the NPs/MTs bottom layer. The Cell-NPs/MTs + CSSs achieves an outstanding efficiency of 9.60% due to the further optimized electron transport path.     

Nanocrystalline TiO2 films treated with acid and base catalysts for dye-sensitized solar cells

Crystalline size and porosity of TiO₂ films are known to be easily controlled by changing acid or base catalyst concentration. This work investigates the influence of acid/base catalyst treatments of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The results indicate that the performance of DSSC fabricated with base-treated TiO₂ is remarkably better than that fabricated with acid-treated TiO₂ because of different film properties including particle size, shape, film porosity, and surface structure and electron transport phenomena.     

染料敏化太阳能电池MO／TiO2复合薄膜的制备与表征

用溶胶-凝胶法结合旋转镀膜法制备致密TiO2薄膜，采用丝网印刷技术制备多孔TiO2薄膜，采用液相沉积法制备ZnO／Ti02、MgO／TiO2复合薄膜。用x射线能谱仪、原子力显微镜、紫外-可见分光光度计对复合薄膜的化学组分、表面形貌、吸光性能等进行分析；组装电池，测定了电池性能。结果表明：ZnO／TiO2、MgO／TiO2复合薄膜具有较好的光电性能，染料敏化太阳能电池的短路电流、开路电压、填充因子、光电转换效率均得到提高。     

柔性染料敏化太阳能电池TiO2薄膜的低温制备技术

简要介绍了柔性染料敏化太阳能电池的特点,综述了柔性染料敏化太阳能电池中TiO2纳米晶半导体薄膜光电极的低温制备技术.     

Enhanced electron lifetime on nitrogen-doped TiO2 films for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nitrogen-doped TiO2 crystallites were prepared via the hydrolysis of TiCl4 using an ammonia medium in an aqueous solution for DSSC photoelectrodes. The optimized photoelectrode for the DSSC was prepared with 9.4 nm sized N-doped TiO2 crystal (BET; 200 m2/g), which provides a relatively high short circuit current and energy conversion efficiency in the DSSC. The photovoltaic performance of the N-doped TiO2 electrode was confirmed using incident photon-to-current efficient spectra, impedance analyses, and Bode-phase plots which proved that the N-doped TiO2 electrode has a significantly enhanced electron lifetime compared with that of the P25 electrode.     

Nanostructured TiO2 films for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by the sol-gel method

TiO2 films were prepared on glass substrates using the sol-gel process for a dye-sensitized solar cell application. The TiO2 sol was prepared using hydrolysis/polycondensation. Titanium (IV) Tetra Isopropoxide (TTIP) was used as precursor and Nitric acid (HNO3) was used as a catalyst for the peptization. The crystal structure and morphology of the prepared materials were characterized by XRD, and an SEM. The observations confirmed the nanocrystalline nature of the TiO2. The reaction parameters, such as the catalyst concentrations, the calcination time, and the calcination temperature were varied during the synthesis in order to achieve nanosize TiO2 particles. The prepared TiO2 particles were coated onto FTO glass using a screen printing technique. The prepared TiO2 films were characterized by UV-vis. The TiO2 particles calcinated at low temperatures showed an anatase phase they grew into a rutile phase when the calcination temperature increased. The size and structure of the TiO2 particles were adjusted to specific surface areas. It was found that the conversion efficiency of the DSSC was highly affected by the properties of the TiO2 particles.     

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of TiO2 microspheres for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Mesoporous TiO2 microspheres (MS) have been synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique. The samples were analyzed by XRD...     

Fabrication and characterization of nano TiO2 thin films at low temperature

Anatase TiO₂ thin films were successfully prepared on glass slide substrates via a sol–gel method from refluxed sol (RS) containing anatase TiO₂ crystals at low temperature of 100 °C. The influences of various refluxing time on crystallinity, morphology and size of the RS sol and dried TiO₂ films particles were discussed. These samples were characterized by infrared absorption spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis). The photocatalytic activities of the TiO₂ thin films were assessed by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution. The results indicated that titania films thus obtained were transparent and their maximal light transmittance exceeded 80% under visible light region. The TiO₂ thin films prepared from RS-6 sol showed the highest photocatalytic activity, when the calcination temperature is higher than 300 °C. The degradation of methyl orange of RS-6 thin films reached 99% after irradiated for 120 min, the results suggested that the TiO₂ thin films prepared from RS sol exhibited high photoactivities.     

TiO_2纳米管阵列电极染料敏化太阳能电池

采用电化学阳极氧化法在纯钛片表面制备了高度有序的TiO2纳米管阵列。利用SEM、XRD分别对TiO2纳米管阵列的形貌、晶型进行了表征,并通过线性扫描伏安法对N719染料敏化纳米管阵列电极的光电性能进行了研究。实验结果表明,纳米管阵列的管径和长度随着阳极氧化电压的升高和氧化时间的延长都分别相应增加。同时还发现,通过450℃热处理的TiO2纳米管阵列,具有较好的锐钛矿晶型结构,其光电转化效率为2.1%。     

Growth of ZnO nanorods on TiO2 nanoparticles films and their application to the electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells

A ZnO nanorods (NRs)/TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) film has been prepared by electrochemical deposition of ZnO NRs growth on P25 TiO₂ NPs film surfaces. It was found that ZnO NRs/TiO₂ NPs could significantly improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells owing to its relatively enhanced light-scattering capability and efficient charge transport efficiency. The overall energy-conversion efficiency (η) of 3.48 % was achieved by the formation of ZnO NRs/TiO₂ NPs film, which is 33 % higher than that formed by TiO₂ NPs alone (η = 2.62 %). The charge recombination behavior of cells was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectra, and the results showed that ZnO NRs/TiO₂ NPs film has the longer electron lifetime than TiO₂ NPs alone, which could facilitate the reduction of recombination processes and thus would promote the photocatalysis and solar cell performance.     

Application of TiO2 nanoparticles coated multi-wall carbon nanotube to dye-sensitized solar cells

This study uses the sol-gel method to prepare TiO2 nanoparticle, and further applies TiO2 nanoparticle coating on the surface of the multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT). As a result, TiO2-CNT composite nanoparticles are prepared to serve as photoelectrode material in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). First, after acid treatment of MWCNT is used to remove impurities. Then, the sol-gel method is employed to prepare TiO2-CNT composite nanopowder. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that after the TiO2 in TiO2-CNT composite nanopowder has been thermally treated at 450 degrees C, it can be completely changed to anatase phase. Furthermore, as shown from the SEM image, TiO2 has been successfully coated on CNT. The photoelectrode of DSSC is prepared using the electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) to mix the Degassa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles with TiO2-CNT powder for deposition on the indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass. After secondary EPD, a thin film of TiO2/CNTs with thickness 17 microm can be acquired. For the prepared TiO2-CNT composite nanoparticles, since MWCNT can increase the short-circuit current density of DSSC, the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of DSSC can be effectively increased. Experimental results show that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSC using CNT/TiO2 photoelectrode and N719 dye is increased by 41% from the original 3.45% to 4.87%.     

Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing TiO2/graphite composite counter electrode and TiO2/N719 sensitizer photoelectrode for low-cost power generation

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have evolved through the highest devotion of the research community as a low-cost alternative for...