title: Dye stabilization and enhanced photoelectrode wettability in water-based dye-sensitized solar cells through post-assembly atomic layer deposition of TiO2.
abstract: Detachment (desorption) of molecular dyes from photoelectrodes is one of the major limitations for the long-term operation of dye-sensitized solar cells. Here we demonstrate a method to greatly inhibit this loss by growing a transparent metal oxide (TiO2) on the dye-coated photoelectrode via atomic layer deposition (ALD). TiO2-enshrouded sensitizers largely resist detachment, even in pH 10.7 ethanol, a standard solution for intentional removal of molecular dyes from photoelectrodes. Additionally, the ALD post-treatment renders the otherwise hydrophobic dye-coated surface hydrophilic, thereby enhancing photoelectrode pore-filling with aqueous solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research (ANSER) Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Ho-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chaiya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prasittichai
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mondloch
authors.forename: Langli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Omar K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Farha
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hupp