title: Single-step fabrication process of 1-D photonic crystals coupled to nanocolumnar TiO2layers to improve DSC efficiency.
abstract: The present work proposes the use of a TiO2electrode coupled to a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC), all formed by the sequential deposition of nanocolumnar thin films by physical vapor oblique angle deposition (PV-OAD), to enhance the optical and electrical performance of DSCs while transparency is preserved. We demonstrate that this approach allows building an architecture combining a non-dispersive 3 µm of TiO2electrode and 1 µm TiO2-SiO21DPC, both columnar, in a single-step process. The incorporation of the photonic structure is responsible for a rise of 30% in photovoltaic efficiency, as compared with a transparent cell with a single TiO2electrode. Detailed analysis of the spectral dependence of the photocurrent demonstrates that the 1DPC improves light harvesting efficiency by both back reflection and optical cavity modes confinement within the TiO2films, thus increasing the overall performance of the cell.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colodrero
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Míguez
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: González-Elipe