Enhanced performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell with the incorporation of titanium carbide in the TiO2 matrix

Abstract

The effects of incorporation of various weight percentages of titanium carbide (TiC) into TiO(2) matrices on the photovoltaics of the respective dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were investigated. It is established through relevant photographs, XRD and EDX analysis that TiC was partially converted into anatase TiO(2) (a-TiO(2)) when the TiC was sintered at 450 degrees C. With the incorporation of 3.0 wt% of the TiC in the TiO(2) film, the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (eta) of the cell reached 7.56% from its value of 6.61% with a bare TiO(2) film. "In situ" incorporation of this TiC/a-TiO(2) composite in the commercial TiO(2) is considered as the basis for enhanced cell efficiency of the benefited cell. The variations in J(SC), FF, and V(OC) are explained by analyzing the data of dark currents, UV-absorption spectra, transparency spectra, and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) which were obtained under illumination and darkness. Enhancement in the V(OC) for the promoted cell is explained through pertinent electron lifetime in the TiO(2) film, which was obtained by using laser-induced photo-voltage transient studies. Electron diffusion coefficient was also measured by using laser-induced photo-current transient studies.

Efficient titanium nitride/titanium oxide composite photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells and water splitting

“…[1][2][3][4] Titanium nitridebased thin lms have been proposed for many applications, including nitrite detection, 5 pollution degradation, 6,7 heterojunction photovoltaics, 8 resonators, [9][10][11] biosensors, 12-14 DNA sequencing electrodes, 15 fuel cells, [16][17][18][19] water splitting, [20][21][22][23] supercapacitors, [24][25][26] superconductors, [27][28][29] lithium batteries, [30][31][32] eld effect transistors, 33 and dye-sensitized solar cells. Many researchers have introduced a number of additives with high conductivity, including gold nanoparticles, 44,45 silver nanoparticles, 46 carbon-based materials, [47][48][49] transition-metal-based materials, 50,51 into the TiO 2 lms to enhance their electrical conductivity and retard the charge recombination reactions. Among these, solar energy is considered as a promising renewable power supplement without limitation because it can be converted into electrical, chemical or thermal energy.…”

“…The cell efficiency is, therefore, limited by overwhelming interfacial recombination reactions between the excited electrons and I 3 À ions. Many researchers have introduced a number of additives with high conductivity, including gold nanoparticles, 44,45 silver nanoparticles, 46 carbon-based materials, [47][48][49] transition-metal-based materials, 50,51 into the TiO 2 lms to enhance their electrical conductivity and retard the charge recombination reactions. Yoo et al introduced TiN as a charge collector to cover onto the TiO 2 layer in a transparent conducting oxide (TCO)-less photoanode (a special design); 52 the TiN successfully retarded the recombination between the injected electrons and I 3 À ions.…”

Facile Solution Dropping Method: A Green Process for Dyeing TiO2 Electrodes of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Enhanced Power Conversion Efficiency

“…This remarkable achievement actually has come a long way after exploring numerous sensitizing dyes and optimizing countless nanoporous TiO 2 electrodes. The working principle of DSCs and various kinds of chemical sensitizers is well described by Hagfeldt et al and Palomares et al , In addition, many metal-free organic dyes were also summarized in the literatures reported by Harima et al and Bäuerle et al , Apart from that, further modification of nanoporous TiO 2 photoanodes has been demonstrated as an effective way to improve the performance of DSCs. − Development of better electrolyte systems is also indispensable in achieving high performance DSCs. − However, the so-called immersion dyeing process used in dyeing TiO 2 electrodes is a time-consuming process, commonly from 5 h up to 16 h. Moreover, except for those improved dyeing processes (vide infra), most of the immersion dyeing processes generate a great amount of chemical wastes including organic solvents and dye substances. This makes such an innovated technology of producing renewable energy less attractive in practical manufacture due to the nature of the environmental hazards.…”

Influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles embedded-TiO2 nanofibers based photoanodes on photovoltaic performance of a dye sensitized solar cell

“…22 This improved the solar cell performances. [21][22][23][24] But, in the addition to the 5 wt% of Al 2 O 3 NPs, the adsorption of dye on TiO 2 NFs decreased. This might be to increase in the amorphous nature on the surface of TiO 2 NFs, which reduced the overall surface area by blocking the porosity on the surface of the nanobers, thereby reducing the dye adsorption.…”