title: Efficient Performance of Electrostatic Spray-Deposited TiO2 Blocking Layers in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells after Swift Heavy Ion Beam Irradiation.
abstract: A compact TiO2 layer (~1.1 μm) prepared by electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and swift heavy ion beam (SHI) irradiation using oxygen ions onto a fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) conducting substrate showed enhancement of photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The short circuit current density (Jsc = 12.2 mA cm(-2)) of DSSCs was found to increase significantly when an ESD technique was applied for fabrication of the TiO2 blocking layer, compared to a conventional spin-coated layer (Jsc = 8.9 mA cm(-2)). When SHI irradiation of oxygen ions of fluence 1 × 10(13) ions/cm(2) was carried out on the ESD TiO2, it was found that the energy conversion efficiency improved mainly due to the increase in open circuit voltage of DSSCs. This increased energy conversion efficiency seems to be associated with improved electronic energy transfer by increasing the densification of the blocking layer and improving the adhesion between the blocking layer and the FTO substrate. The adhesion results from instantaneous local melting of the TiO2 particles. An increase in the electron transport from the blocking layer may also retard the electron recombination process due to the oxidized species present in the electrolyte. These findings from novel treatments using ESD and SHI irradiation techniques may provide a new tool to improve the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs.
authors: Center for Next Generation Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, WCU Program, Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sudhagar
authors: Inter-University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110 067, India.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Asokan
authors: Center for Next Generation Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, WCU Program, Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors: June Hyuk
authors: JH
authors: Jung
authors: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yong-Gun
authors: YG
authors: Lee
authors: Center for Next Generation Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, WCU Program, Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea.
authors: Suil
authors: S
authors: Park
authors: Center for Next Generation Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, WCU Program, Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, South Korea. kangys@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors: Yong Soo
authors: YS
authors: Kang
keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cells; Impedance spectroscopy; Interfaces; Ion beam irradiation; Titanium oxide