title: Fence Constructed at a Semiconductor/Electrolyte Interface Improving the Electron Collection Efficiency of the Photoelectrode for a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell.
abstract: Charge recombination and transfer at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface play a crucial role in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, a fine-controlled gold nanoparticle (Au NP) via electrodeposition incorporated into a porous TiO2photoanode and dodecanethiol molecules as an assembled monolayer capping on Au NPs was designed and prepared. The "fence-like" structure of gold thiol molecules at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface can not only insulate the electrolyte to suppress recombination but also make full use of the plasmon-enhanced light absorption of Au NPs. The photoanodes were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption, and Mott-Schottky analyses. Compared to pure TiO2, the DSSC with an interface "fence" structure achieved an efficiency (η) of 8.17%, increasing by 10.4%. The enhancement results are essentially attributed to the increase of the light-harvesting and electron collection properties, accompanying a slight promotion in the Fermi level. Furthermore, after dodecanethiol molecule treatment, the Au NPs with an intensified near-field effect also acted as electron sinks to store more electrons and exhibited a well electron-transport performance from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis.
authors.forename: Hongzhen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5707-3954
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Center for Organic Electronic and Alternative Energy, Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University , Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jungsuttiwong
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6718-2994
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhuyi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7790-652X
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology , Shanghai 200093, China.
authors.forename: Hualan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: Au NPs; EIS analysis; interface fence; plasmon-enhanced solar cells; thiol molecule treatment