Photovoltaic Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Containing ZnO Microrods

Abstract

At an elevated temperature of 90 °C, a chemical bath deposition using an aqueous solution of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and (CH2)6N4 resulted in the formation of both nanoflowers and microrods of ZnO on F-doped SnO2 glass with a seed layer. The nanoflowers and microrods were sensitized with dyes for application to the photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By extending the growth time of ZnO, the formation of nanoflowers was reduced and the formation of microrods favored. As the growth time was increased from 4 to 6 and then to 8 h, the open circuit voltage (Voc) values of the DSSCs were increased, whilst the short circuit current (Jsc) values varied only slightly. Changes in the dye-loading amount, dark current, and electrochemical impedance were monitored and they revealed that the increase in Voc was found to be due to a retardation of the charge recombination between photoinjected electrons and I3− ions and resulted from a reduction in the surface area of ZnO microrods. A reduced surface area decreased the dye contents adsorbed on the ZnO microrods, and thereby decreased the light harvesting efficiency (LHE). An increase in the electron collection efficiency attributed to the suppressed charge recombination counteracted the decreased LHE, resulting in comparable Jsc values regardless of the growth time.

Enhancement in Photovoltaic Performance of Solar Cells by Electrostatic Adsorption of Dyes on ZnO Nanorods

“…To grow ZnO nanorods and fabricate DSCs, the same materials as those used in our previous work were exploited [25]. Detailed materials information is provided in the electronic supplementary information (ESI).…”

Titanium Dioxide Nanorods as An Effective Blocking Layer in Solar Cells

“…Since all samples had the same photoanode layer and thus presumably have similar dye adsorption, the higher J sc and EQE suggest that the presence of the blocking layer had a significant influence on the charge collection. It is likely that higher photoconversion efficiency and EQE of DSSC with the blocking layer were attributed by the reduced recombination rate [28], [29]. As illustrated in Fig.…”

PVA Based Polymer Electrolyte with Layered Filler Graphite for Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

“…In order to overcome this drawback various metal ions as well as Non-metal dopants such as nitrogen, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus etc are used for enhancing the visible light photoactivity of TiO 2 [7] . In this direction copper oxide has received considerable interest due to its interesting physical properties such as a superior gas sensing material, potential field emitter, powerful catalytic agent, huge application in optoelectronics and solar cells [8] .…”