Effect of compressed TiO2 nanoparticle thin film thickness on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

In this study, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as photoanode. Photoanode thin films were prepared by doctor blading method with 420 kg/cm2 of mechanical compression process and heat treatment in the air at 500°C for 30 min. The optimal thickness of the TiO2 NP photoanode is 26.6 μm with an efficiency of 9.01% under AM 1.5G illumination at 100 mW/cm2. The efficiency is around two times higher than that of conventional DSSCs with an uncompressed photoanode. The open-circuit voltage of DSSCs decreases as the thickness increases. One DSSC (sample D) has the highest conversion efficiency while it has the maximum short-circuit current density. The results indicate that the short-circuit current density is a compromise between two conflict factors: enlargement of the surface area by increasing photoanode thickness and extension of the electron diffusion length to the electrode as the thickness increases.

TiO2 nanotube formation by Ti film anodization and their transport properties for dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Tsai et al [25] reported the electron transport resistance of 19.2 X for the DSSC fabricated using 12.7 lm TiO 2 nanoparticle film as the photoanode. In this study, TiO 2 NT photoanodes with thickness of 4.8 lm showed lower transport resistance (R t = 18.87 X).…”

Digital Printing of Titanium Dioxide for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

“…The results vary significantly, with optimum film thickness reported from anywhere between 9.5 µm and 20 µm [33][34][35][36][37][38][39] . Table 1 outlines the thicknesses of the TiO 2 printed layers and the efficiencies.…”

Fabrication of Polymeric Antireflection Film Manufactured by Anodic Aluminum Oxide Template on the Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

“…The sample then compressed mechanically at pressure of 279 kg/cm 2 . The post heat treatment was done by two-step annealing, 150 °C for 90 min and 500 °C for 30 min in air, respectively to form TiO2 photoanodes [15,16]. The 150 °C annealing temperature would decompose the residual organic compounds and the 500°C annealing temperature would assist the interconnection of TiO2 NPs, so that the loss of electron transmission becomes less.…”