N-doped titania powders prepared by different nitrogen sources and their application in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

SUMMARY Nitrogen‐doped TiO2 nanocrystalline particles are synthesized by a microwave‐assisted hydrothermal growth method using different amines (Dipropylamine, Diethanolamine and Ammonium hydroxide) as nitrogen sources. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed with X‐ray diffraction, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The prepared N‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit pure anatase phase with average diameter of 9 nm and reduced optical energy gap compared to undoped TiO2. Immobilization of N‐doped and pure TiO2 nanoparticles on SnO2:F conductive glass substrates was successfully performed by using doctor‐blade technique and paste of the aforementioned nanoparticles. A series of N‐doped TiO2 photoelectrodes with varying N dopant source and concentrations were fabricated for quasi‐solid state dye‐sensitized solar cells. The N‐doped solar cells achieve an overall conversion efficiency ranging from 4.0 to 5.7% while undoped TiO2 showed 3.6%. The basic difference to the electrical performance of the cells is focused to the enhancement in the current density of N‐doped TiO2‐based cells which was from 11% to 58% compared with undoped TiO2 cells. Current densities were directly proportional with nitrogen doping level in TiO2 lattice which differs depending on the amine source nature such as basicity differences, hydrogen bonding abilities and steric inherences. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Soft‐template synthesis of high surface area mesoporous titanium dioxide for dye‐sensitized solar cells

“…TiO 2 nanoparticles with mesoporous nature offer a large internal surface area, which improves dye adsorption, leading to efficient light absorption and high photocurrent generation. Hence, high‐power conversion efficiency can be achieved compared with bulk TiO 2 material . Moreover, this mesoporous structure offers rapid electron transport at the device interface, which improves the charge transfer properties of the DSSC .…”

“…Hence, high-power conversion efficiency can be achieved compared with bulk TiO 2 material. 12 Moreover, this mesoporous structure offers rapid electron transport at the device interface, which improves the charge transfer properties of the DSSC. 13,14 There has been a considerable amount of research interest in synthesizing mesoporous titanium dioxide with high surface area.…”

Influence of Nitrogen Doping on Device Operation for TiO2-Based Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Photo-Physics from Materials to Devices

“…We provided evidence of a significant contribution from the N-doped electrode to the generation of charge carriers, as a secondary current generation pathway. Although recent studies based on quasi-solid state DSSC devices demonstrated similar trends [ 35 ], no clear correlation between material properties and device performance were drawn.…”

Efficiency enhancement of dye-sensitized TiO2solar cell based on ruthenium(II) terpyridyl complex photosensitizer

“…In this regard, researchers' attention has been paid to the exploitation of the huge energy reservoir of the sun which is 10 4 times more than the actual consumption . The invention of the first dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by O'Regan and Grätzel in 1991 has made possible the usage of the solar cell energy, and since then ample investigations have been reported . The efficiency of the DSSC has been judged based on its ability to absorb visible light of all colors .…”