title: Novel Zn-Sn-O nanocactus with excellent transport properties as photoanode material for high performance dye-sensitized solar cells.
abstract: A novel chemically stable Zn-Sn-O nanocactus structure has been synthesized for the first time using a hydrothermal method. The Zn-Sn-O nanocactus structure comprises a Zn poor-Zn(2)SnO(4) plate and Zn-doped SnO(2) nanothorns growing on the plate, both of which have high electron mobilities. The nanocactus is used as the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the Zn-Sn-O nanocactus film reaches 2.21%, which is twice the previous reported efficiency of pure SnO(2). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements show that the Zn-Sn-O nanocactus film has a good effective diffusion length and high intrinsic electron mobility. After TiCl(4) treatment of the Zn-Sn-O nanocactus film, the current density increases nearly three times and the PCE increases to 6.62%, which compares favourably with the P25 DSSCs (6.97%) and is much higher than that of the SnO(2) (1.04%) or Zn(2)SnO(4) (3.7%)-based DSSCs.
authors: Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637533. xcdou@ntu.edu.sg
authors: Xincun
authors: X
authors: Dou
authors: Nripan
authors: N
authors: Mathews
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Stevin Snellius
authors: SS
authors: Pramana
authors: Yeng Ming
authors: YM
authors: Lam
authors: Subodh
authors: S
authors: Mhaisalkar
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012993:Solar Energy; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D017971:Tin Compounds; C045358:stannic oxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide