title: Improvement of photovoltaic efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell by introducing highly transparent nanoporous TiO2 buffer layer.
abstract: 13 nm-sized highly-dispersible TiO2 nanoparticle was synthesized by solvothermal reaction of titanium isopropoxide in a basic condition with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH). The prepared TiO2 nanoparticle was applied to fabrication of the transparent nanoporous TiO2 layer with 1.2 microm-thickness. By introducing this buffer layer between FTO and main TiO2 layer in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), the photovoltaic conversion efficiency was improved from 5.92% to 7.13%. Due to the excellent antireflective role of nanoporous TiO2 buffer layer, the transmittance of FTO glass was increased by 9.2%, and this seemed to be one of the major factors in enhancing photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Moreover, the presence of nanoporous TiO2 buffer layer induces excellent adhesion between FTO and main TiO2 layer, as well as it suppresses the back reaction by blocking direct contact between I3- and FTO electrode.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Inha University, Incheon, 402-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hark Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Hyeon
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Goo Il
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nam-Gyu
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chongmu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wan In
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Lee