Abstract
Li-doped ZnO (LZO) aggregated nanoparticles are used as an insulating layer in SnO2 nanocomposite (SNC) photoanodes to suppress the recombination process in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Various weight percentages of SnO2 nanoparticles (SNPs) and SnO2 nanoflowers (SNFs) were used to prepare SNC photoanodes. The photocurrent-voltage characteristics showed that the incorporation of an LZO insulating layer in an SNC photoanode increased the conversion efficiency of DSSCs. This was due to an increase in the surface area, charge injection, and charge collection, and the minimization of the recombination rate of photoanodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed lower series resistance, charge injection resistance, and shorter lifetimes for DSSCs based on an SNC photoanode with an LZO insulating layer. The open circuit voltage and fill factor of the DSSCs based on SNC photoanodes with an LZO insulating layer significantly increased. The DSSC based on a SNC photoanode with a SNC:SNF weight ratio of 1:1 had a high current density of 4.73 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage of 630 mV, fill factor of 69%, and efficiency of 2.06%.
Highlights
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been considered a cost effective, environmentally friendly alternative power source since 1991
The onset potential of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based is lower than that of the DSSCs on the SNC_Z (0.5:1) photoanode is 610 mV, whereas that of the DSSCs based on the SnO2 nanocomposite (SNC) (0.5:1)
The conversion efficiency of DSSCs based on this novel photoanode microstructure was clearly increased
Summary
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been considered a cost effective, environmentally friendly alternative power source since 1991. The redox mediators based on cobalt complexes allowed. Nanowires, and nanoflowers in DSSC reduce the fabrication cost, stabilize the structure of materials, and provide high light absorption and electron collection [2]. The novelty and flexible portable DSSCs were prepared to compete the traditional silicon solar cell due to the low cost and easy-to-prepare materials [3]. A new photoelectrochromic device which is the combination of electrochromic device and a polymer-based DSSC was reported and shows long-term stability under real outdoor conditions [4]. Many studies have focused on metal oxide photoanodes, such as TiO2 [5], ZnO [6], SnO2 [7], and Zn2 SnO3 [8]. SnO2 are the most prominent candidate, due to its optical and electrical properties, such as higher electronic mobility [9] wide band gap energy as compared to TiO2 , which guarantees higher stability under ultraviolet-visible (UV)
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