Ag Nanoparticle-Functionalized Open-Ended Freestanding TiO₂ Nanotube Arrays with a Scattering Layer for Improved Energy Conversion Efficiency in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using open-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube arrays functionalized with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in the channel to create a plasmonic effect, and then coated with large TiO₂ NPs to create a scattering effect in order to improve energy conversion efficiency. Compared to closed-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube array-based DSSCs without Ag or large TiO₂ NPs, the energy conversion efficiency of closed-ended DSSCs improved by 9.21% (actual efficiency, from 5.86% to 6.40%) with Ag NPs, 6.48% (actual efficiency, from 5.86% to 6.24%) with TiO₂ NPs, and 14.50% (actual efficiency, from 5.86% to 6.71%) with both Ag NPs and TiO₂ NPs. By introducing Ag NPs and/or large TiO₂ NPs to open-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube array-based DSSCs, the energy conversion efficiency was improved by 9.15% (actual efficiency, from 6.12% to 6.68%) with Ag NPs and 8.17% (actual efficiency, from 6.12% to 6.62%) with TiO₂ NPs, and by 15.20% (actual efficiency, from 6.12% to 7.05%) with both Ag NPs and TiO₂ NPs. Moreover, compared to closed-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube arrays, the energy conversion efficiency of open-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube arrays increased from 6.71% to 7.05%. We demonstrate that each component-Ag NPs, TiO₂ NPs, and open-ended freestanding TiO₂ nanotube arrays-enhanced the energy conversion efficiency, and the use of a combination of all components in DSSCs resulted in the highest energy conversion efficiency.
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea. rho72@snu.ac.kr.|Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea. rho72@snu.ac.kr.
Won-Yeop
WY
Rho
Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea. hwanmc@hanmail.net.
Myeung-Hwan
MH
Chun
Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea. hosub@snu.ac.kr.
Ho-Sub
HS
Kim
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea. hmkim0109@konkuk.ac.kr.
Hyung-Mo
HM
Kim
Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea. jssuh@snu.ac.kr.
Jung Sang
JS
Suh
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea. bjun@konkuk.ac.kr.
Bong-Hyun
BH
Jun
anodization; dye-sensitized solar cells; open-ended freestanding TiO2 nanotube arrays; plasmonic; scattering