Abstract
Dextran-templating hydrothermal synthesis of monoclinic WO3 exhibits excellent specific surface area of ∼110 m2/g and a monomodal pore distribution with an average pore diameter of ∼20 nm. Dextran plays a crucial role in generating porosity on WO3. The role of supporting dextran has been investigated and found to be crucial to tune the surface area, porosity, and morphology. The photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal the existence of oxygen vacancies in substoichiometric WO3, which creates localized defect states in WO3 as synthesized through this templating method. The highly mesoporous WO3 has been further explored as an interfacial cathode buffer layer (CBL) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A significantly enhanced photoconversion efficiency has boosted up the performance of the counter electrode used in traditional DSSC (as platinum) and PSC (as carbon) devices by ∼48 and ∼29%, respectively. The electrochemical impedance and incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) studies were also analyzed in order to understand the catalytic behavior of the WO3 interfacial CBL for both DSSCs and PSCs, respectively. The much higher surface area of WO3 enables rapid electron hopping mechanism, which further benefits for higher electron mobility, resulting in higher short circuit current. Through this study, we were able to unequivocally establish the importance of buffer layer incorporation, which can further help to integrate the DSSC and PSC devices toward more stable, reliable, and enhanced efficiency-generating devices. In spite of this, using WO3 constitutes an important step toward the efficiency improvement of the devices for futuristic photoelectrochromic or self-powered switchable glazing for low-energy adaptive building integration.
Highlights
In the recent past, there has been a great impetus to develop and design functional materials for energy-harvesting applications in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs).[1−4] While researching new ways to increase the efficiency of utilizing solar energy, the technology is constantly being developed into new and better-advanced products
PSCs are considered as an advancement over DSSCs, where the photoanode thickness is reduced to a few microns and the dye is replaced by a superior light-absorbing organometal halide perovskite supported by a hole-transporting layer, which can be deposited directly over this cell architecture.[7]
The main diffraction peaks at 23.1, 23.7, and 24.4o ascribed to Miller indices (002), (020), and (200), respectively, correspond to the monoclinic WO3 phase
Summary
There has been a great impetus to develop and design functional materials for energy-harvesting applications in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs).[1−4] While researching new ways to increase the efficiency of utilizing solar energy, the technology is constantly being developed into new and better-advanced products. DSSCs stand out as one of the front runners in view of the basic novelty of the concept derived from nature’s principles, which allows facile and costeffective processing alternatives.[5,6] PSCs are considered as an advancement over DSSCs, where the photoanode thickness is reduced to a few microns and the dye is replaced by a superior light-absorbing organometal halide perovskite supported by a hole-transporting layer, which can be deposited directly over this cell architecture.[7] Among the research and development versatility of the third-generation solar cell photovoltaic (PV) area, PSCs are the best technology developed during the last few years that promise a cheaper and more efficient alternative to the existing technologies for converting light to electric power.[8,9] Implementation of various structures and fabrication strategies such as nanostructured materials (core−shell, mesoporous, one-dimensional, composite),[10] advanced light-harvesting materials (quantum dots, NIR sensitizers),[11,12] solid-state electrolytes,[13] elimination of hole-transport materials (HTM),[14] flexible substrates,[15] scattering layers,[16] up-conversion materials,[17] and encapsulation methods,[18] is envisaged as a potential effort to achieve prolonged stability and high efficiency in DSSC and PSC devices. A cathode buffer layer (CBL) excels as a supportive or optional layer for the cathode or back electrode material, which protects the cell from air and moisture and induces enhanced perform-
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