Surface-treated TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells with remarkably enhanced performance.
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared by capitalizing on mesoporous P-25 TiO(2) nanoparticle film sensitized with N719 dyes. Subjecting TiO(2) nanoparticle films to TiCl(4) treatment, the device performance was improved. More importantly, O(2) plasma processing of TiO(2) film that was not previously TiCl(4)-treated resulted in a lower efficiency; by contrast, subsequent O(2) plasma exposure after TiCl(4) treatment markedly enhanced the power conversion efficiency, PCE, of DSSCs. Remarkably, with TiCl(4) and O(2) plasma treatments dye-sensitized TiO(2) nanoparticle solar cells produced with 21 μm thick TiO(2) film illuminated under 100 mW/cm(2) exhibited a PCE as high as 8.35%, twice of untreated cells of 3.86%.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Xukai
X
Xin
Margaret
M
Scheiner
Meidan
M
Ye
Zhiqun
Z
Lin
D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013861:Thiocyanates; C506095:bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium) bis(thiocyanate); C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium