Light Scattering Amplification on Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Assembled by Hollyhock-shaped CdS-TiO₂Composites

Abstract

To investigate the scattering layer effect of a TiO 2 multilayer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we designed a new DSSC system, assembled with a CdS-TiO 2 scattering layer electrode. A high-magnification SEM image exhibited hollyhock-like particles with a width of 1.5-2.0 µm that were aggregated into 10-nm clumps in a hexagonal petal shape. The efficiency was higher in the DSSC assembled with a CdS-TiO 2 scattering layer than in the DSSC assembled with TiO 2 -only layers, due to the decreased resistance in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The short-circuit current density (J sc ) was increased by approximately 7.26% and the open-circuit voltage (V oc ) by 2.44% over the 1.0 wt % CdS-TiO 2 composite scattering layer and the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) in the maximum peak was also enhanced by about 5.0%, compared to the DSSC assembled without the CdS-TiO 2 scattering layer.

CdS Q-Dot-Impregnated TiO2-B Nanowire-Based Photoanodes for Efficient Photovoltaic Conversion in ‘Q-Dot Co-sensitized DSSC’

“…The TiO 2 -B NW structure seems to have a porous surface developed under certain harsh alkaline conditions during the growth. The corresponding HRTEM image of this single nanowire displays two types of lattice fringes with d-spacings of ∼0.37 and 0.65 nm, assigned to the (110) and (001) planes of TiO 2 -B crystals, respectively, as shown in Figure 6b. 92 Figure 6c depicts that the CdS NPs were randomly grown and anchored on the surface of the TNWs in the TNW/CdS-10 composite sample.…”

“…An optimum mixing of two phases (anatase and bronze) of TiO 2 nanowires can provide an efficient electron-conduction avenue, facilitating enhanced DSSC performance. Now, considering the simple electrochemical solar cells produced from electrodes made of CdS nanocomposites of TiO 2 with different phases and structural configurations (entries 9, 10, and 11), it is apparent from Table that the present combination of CdS with TiO 2 -B NWs (entry 12) is more effective than the others. − Furthermore, in DSSCs, the electrodes made of CdS nanocomposites of TiO 2 , in general, demonstrate lower performance when involving the N719 dye (entries 13, 14, 15, and 16). ,,, The heterojunction formed between the CdS nanoparticles and TiO 2 -anatase nanoparticles when coupled to the N3 dye (no. 17) establishes a synergistic effect due to suitable band alignment among them, which facilitates faster and efficient separation of the e – /h + charge pairs under light illumination, resulting in improved cell efficiency .…”

“…Figure 2 depicts the XRD pattern of the TNW/CdS samples postannealing at 600 °C. The peaks appearing at 2θ = 24.8, 28.7, 29.8, 33.0, 37.6, 43.7, 44.3, 47.9, 52.9, 57.4, 61.9, 67.6, and 76.3°are indexed to (110), (002), (−401), (310), ( 401), (003), (−601), (020), ( 113), (022), ( 403), (023), and (712) crystal planes of monoclinic TiO 2 bronze phases (JCPDS no. , respectively.…”

Light-penetration and light-scattering effects in dye-sensitised solar cells

“…Therefore, the incident sunlight reflects back to the dye adsorbed onto the TiO 2 film, increasing the light-absorbing capability of the dye. 11 Using this method, Z was increased by 1-2%. 12 Several materials have been used for the fabrication of LSLs: large-sized rutile TiO 2 , 13 ZrO 2 , 14 cubic TiO 2 particles, 15 spherical submicrometer-sized TiO 2 , 16 TiO 2 rods, nano-sized TiO 2 particle-mixture structures, 17 and hierarchical TiO 2 -film structures.…”

Enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ and g-C3N4

“…The high photovoltaic activity of the TiO2-NaYF4:Er 3 +/Yb 3+ -C3N4 composite photoanode is superior to the most reported photoanodes [27][28][29][30]. The significantly improved photoelectric conversion efficiency of DSSC is related to the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ nanoparticles and C3N4 (Scheme 1).…”