A study on using a binder-free TiO2 paste with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate addition to improve the performance of low-temperature DSSCs

Abstract

The utilization of binder-free TiO2 paste allows for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) TiO2 electrode fabrication at low temperatures, thus making it a potential material for flexible solar cell devices. However, the physical robustness of formed electrodes using TiO2 paste at low temperatures remains challenging, including issues such as cracking due to film stress and challenges in adjusting the viscosity of the TiO2 paste. In this study, we enhanced the binder-free TiO2 paste performance by incorporating sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) as an additive for TiO2 electrode precursor solution. It demonstrated that SDBS additives help to relieve internal stress and ultimately enhance the physical and structural characteristics of the films by improving the viscosity in the TiO2 paste and promoting the dispersed pinholes within the TiO2 films. Furthermore, implementing TiO2 paste with varying ratios of SDBS has enabled the fabrication of DSSCs with the highest achieved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.53%, representing an enhancement of nearly 15% compared to TiO2 paste without SDBS. This research presents a practical and effective approach for preparing highly efficient binder-free TiO2 paste.