Issue 66, 2017, Issue in Progress

TiO2 nanoparticle/nanofiber–ZnO photoanode for the enhancement of the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

The overall objective of this research was the preparation of optical nanocomposite photoanodes through a simple method. The synthesized nanocomposite photoanodes were then used to improve the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers (NF) were prepared via electrospinning and calcination. Then, thin films were prepared with commercial TiO2 (NP) as a binder. Different concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were used to impregnate TiO2 NP/NF. When the prepared nanostructures were used as photoanodes, the DSSCs based on NP/NF–ZnO film with an optimum concentration of ZnO (3.5 M) exhibited the highest short circuit current density (Jsc) of 12.83 mA cm−2 and open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.764 V. The NP/NF–ZnO photoanode also exhibited a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.54%, which was higher by 26.5% than that of NP/NF (5.17%) with the same electrolyte.

Graphical abstract: TiO2 nanoparticle/nanofiber–ZnO photoanode for the enhancement of the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Jul 2017
Accepted
21 Aug 2017
First published
29 Aug 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 41738-41744

TiO2 nanoparticle/nanofiber–ZnO photoanode for the enhancement of the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

M. Yang, B. Dong, X. Yang, W. Xiang, Z. Ye, E. Wang, L. Wan, L. Zhao and S. Wang, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 41738 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA07644D

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