Enhancement of Photocurrents in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Fabricated Using Al-Incorporated TiO2 Powders Thermal Treated at Different Temperatures
In this study, an attempt was introduced to enhance the high photoelectric currents on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) by increasing the level of dye adsorption on the hydrophilic surface of an Al-incorporated TiO2 anode. Nanometer-sized Al (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0
mol-%)-incorporated TiO2 as a working electrode material was prepared using a common solvothermal method, and the anodes were treated thermally at 400, 500 and 600 °C to improve their fill factors and photoelectric currents in the DSSCs as a result of the strong connections
between nano-particles. The photoelectric current on the 5.0 mol-% Al–TiO2-DSSC and the fill factors increased gradually with increasing treatment temperature: the photo-conversion efficiency was improved to approximately 6.81% for the 5.0 mol-% Al–TiO2-DSSC-600
°C. The added Al imparted a lower band-gap to TiO2, and the conduction band of Al–TiO2 in the potential energy diagram was located between the LUMO of the N719 dye and the valence band of TiO2, suggesting that the electrons excited from
the N719 dye moved easily to the surface of the conduction band of TiO2 through the conduction band of Al–TiO2.
Keywords: Al–TiO2; Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells; Energy Conversion Efficiency; Fill Factor; Thermal Treatment
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Republic of Korea
Publication date: 01 November 2017
- Journal for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN) is an international and multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal with a wide-ranging coverage, consolidating research activities in all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology into a single and unique reference source. JNN is the first cross-disciplinary journal to publish original full research articles, rapid communications of important new scientific and technological findings, timely state-of-the-art reviews with author's photo and short biography, and current research news encompassing the fundamental and applied research in all disciplines of science, engineering and medicine.
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