Abstract
A novel Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) scheme for better solar conversion efficiency is proposed. The distinctive characteristic of this novel scheme is that the conventional thin film electrode is replaced by a 3D nanostructured indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, which was fabricated using RF magnetron sputtering with an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The template was prepared by immersing the barrier-layer side of an AAO film into a 30 wt% phosphoric acid solution to produce a contrasting surface. RF magnetron sputtering was then used to deposit a 3D nanostructured ITO thin film on the template. The crystallinity and conductivity of the 3D ITO films were further enhanced by annealing. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were electrophoretically deposited on the 3D ITO film after which the proposed DSSC was formed by filling vacant spaces in the 3D nanostructured ITO electrode with dye. The measured solar conversion efficiency of the device was 0.125%. It presents a 5-fold improvement over that of conventional spin-coatedTiO2film electrode DSSCs.
Highlights
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that belong to the group of thin film solar cells are currently the most efficient secondgeneration solar technology available
The purpose of this study is to develop a novel scheme for fabrication of DSSCs with better solar conversion efficiency
Due to the stress concentration effect during anodization, the phosphoric acid etched out more alumina at the borders between the cells than from the cell surfaces, resulting in an orderly hemispheric barrier-layer surface
Summary
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that belong to the group of thin film solar cells are currently the most efficient secondgeneration solar technology available. The advantages of these promising solar cells are numerous including low cost, requiring no expensive manufacturing steps, large-scale feasibility [1], capable of working in low-light conditions, and higher efficiencies at higher temperatures,. The key factors that determine the photoelectric efficiency are the structure of individual elements and the type of dye used in the cell. The former affects the separation of the electron-hole pairs, the migration of photoelectrons and holes, and the recombination of photoelectrons and holes. The latter controls the shortcircuit current (Jsc) and the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the cell
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