Efficiency Enhancement of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using TiO2 Nanotube/ZnS Nanoparticles Photoanode

Abstract

A composite material, TiO2 nanotube arrays/ZnS nanoparticles (TNT/ZnS NPs) was assembled by deposition of ZnS nanoparticles onto anodized TiO2 nanotube by sequential chemical bath deposition method. The tube-based photoanodes are crystallized at 550 ºC prior to solar cell construction. The effect of annealing of TiO2 nanotube films at 550 ºC and pH values (7.5, 8.5 9.5) of prepared ZnS nanoparticles on the photovoltaic performance of flexible solar cells is studied. The characteristics of the flexible dye-sensitized solar cell were examined using a polyaniline as a counter electrode and KI/I2 as an electrolyte. Ruthenium dye (N719) was used as an active layer. The characterizations of the films were also accomplished by using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and FTIR. The flexible dye-sensitized solar cells of TNT/ZnS nanoparticles photoanode achieved a power conversion efficiency of 0.75 % under 80 mW/cm 2 illuminations, which is higher than that of bare TiO2 nanotube photoanode (0.3 %).

Performance of the dye‐sensitized solar cells fabricated using natural dyes from Ixora coccinea flowers and Cymbopogon schoenanthus leaves as sensitizers

“…4,5 However, in the recent years, DSSCs have gain the limelight of scientific research because of their important part in the field of harvesting energy from the renewable source. 6,7 The DSSC device has three major parts: (a) a semiconductor film electrode (ie, anode)-a transparent conducting glass electrode with minute interstices bandgap semiconductor, like the dye-coated TiO 2 , which acts as a light sensitizer; (b) an electrolyte layer, wherein the dye molecules are encircled with a layer of electrolyte, which has the ability to recompenses for the lost electrons; (c) and counter electrodes (ie, cathode), which are coated with platinum or graphite. 8 Dyes that are used as sensitizers for the DSSCs must satisfy the following conditions: (a) the dyes absorption spectra must include a broad light spectra between visible light to near-infrared light region, (b) the dye molecules must consist of anchoring groups like the carboxyl and the hydroxyl groups which strongly bind to the semiconductor oxide surfaces and facilitate the injection of the electrons into the conduction wide-band gaps of the semiconductor oxide from the dyes, and (3) the dye sensitizers must be well-balanced for a long period of usage.…”

“…The DSSC has the advantage over common silicon solar cell that they can be produced from cost‐effective, nontoxic materials, thus making DSSC as the most suitable choice for dominance due to its easiness in preparation besides low in cost . However, in the recent years, DSSCs have gain the limelight of scientific research because of their important part in the field of harvesting energy from the renewable source . The DSSC device has three major parts: (a) a semiconductor film electrode (ie, anode)—a transparent conducting glass electrode with minute interstices bandgap semiconductor, like the dye‐coated TiO 2 , which acts as a light sensitizer; (b) an electrolyte layer, wherein the dye molecules are encircled with a layer of electrolyte, which has the ability to recompenses for the lost electrons; (c) and counter electrodes (ie, cathode), which are coated with platinum or graphite .…”