title: An unconventional route to high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells via embedding graphitic thin films into TiO2 nanoparticle photoanode.
abstract: Graphitic thin films embedded with highly dispersed titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles were incorporated for the first time into the conventional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), resulting in a remarkably improved cell efficiency due to its superior electron conductivity. Massively ordered arrays of TiO(2) dots embedded in carbon matrix were fabricated via UV-stabilization of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) films containing TiO(2) precursors followed by direct carbonization. For dye-sensitized TiO(2) based solar cells containing carbon/TiO(2) thin layers at both sides of pristine TiO(2) layer, an increase of 62.3% [corrected] in overall power conversion efficiency was achieved compared with neat TiO(2)-based DSSCs. Such a remarkably improved cell efficiency was ascribed to the superior electron conductivity and extended electron lifetime elucidated by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Xukai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Myunghwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Zhiqun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dong Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D010316:Particle Size; D012993:Solar Energy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium