Application of a nanostructured, tri-layer TiO2 photoanode for efficiency enhancement in quasi-solid electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells.

Abstract

A nanostructured, tri-layer TiO₂ photoanode consisting of a rice grain-shaped (RG), electrospun TiO₂ nanofiber layer (NF) sandwiched between two TiO₂ nanoparticle (NP) layers has been successfully used for the efficiency enhancement in quasi-solid-state electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A polyethylene oxide-based quasi-solid-state or gel electrolyte with binary iodide salts with optimized composition was employed as the electrolyte.

The solar cell parameters of this DSSC were compared with DSSCs fabricated using conventional NP TiO₂ photoanode. While the DSSCs fabricated with conventional NP photoanode showed an average efficiency of 5.76% with J_sc of 12.12 mA cm⁻² and V_oc of 718.7 mV, the DSSCs fabricated with three-layer composite TiO₂ nanostructured photoanode (TiO₂ NP/RG/NP) showed an enhanced efficiency of 6.90% with J_sc of 16.93 mA cm⁻² and V_oc of 672.3 mV.

This shows that the three-layered composite photoanode with “rice grain-shaped” nanostructure is much superior to single-layered TiO₂ nanoparticle photoanode prepared by conventional method and evidently contributes to the efficiency enhancement by enhanced light harvesting by scattering. Post-treatment of the three-layer photoanode with TiCl₄ further enhanced the efficiency up to an impressive 7.30% which is among the highest for a quasi-solid-state DSSC.

Citation

Dissanayake, M.A.K.L., Sarangika, H.N.M., Senadeera, G.K.R., Divarathna, H.K.D.W.M.N.R. and Ekanayake, E.M.P.C., Application of a nanostructured, tri-layer TiO2 photoanode for efficiency enhancement in quasi-solid electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, pp.1-11.

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Category: Solar & Photovoltaics

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