title: Interrelationship between TiO2nanoparticle size and kind/size of dyes in the mechanism and conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells.
abstract: In order to provide a comprehensive investigation of TiO2nanoparticle size in relation with different dye types in DSSCs, three sizes of TiO2nanoparticles and two different dye types including a porphyrin dye (T2) and a ruthenium dye (N3) were synthesized. Steady state current-voltage (J-V) characteristics were investigated for the fabricated DSSCs and the results demonstrated that the optimum TiO2nanoparticle size changed with the dye type. The obtained J-V data were interpreted by cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, BET measurement, DFT calculation, IPCE measurement and impedance spectroscopy. The results for the N3 dye show that the surface area of the TiO2nanoparticles is a key factor for the N3 cells, which is restricted by TiO2pore diameter and surface state traps. In contrast, the density of localized states of the TiO2film under the LUMO state of the porphyrin dyes is the dominating factor for the performance of the solar cells, which is restricted by the surface area of the TiO2nanoparticles. These obtained results represent a significant advance in the development of porphyrin, ruthenium and even solid electrolyte DSSCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, 1983963113 Tehran, Iran. n-safari@sbu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Pooya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tahay
authors.forename: Meisam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babapour Gol Afshani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Parsa
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safari