Abstract
Efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs] was enhanced by combining the use of TiO2 nanotubes [TNTs] and nanoparticles. TNTs were fabricated by a sol-gel method, and TiO2 powders were produced through an alkali hydrothermal transformation. DSSCs were constructed using TNTs and TiO2 nanoparticles at various weight percentages. TNTs and TiO2 nanoparticles were coated onto FTO glass by the screen printing method. The DSSCs were fabricated using ruthenium(II) (N-719) and electrolyte (I3/I3-) dyes. The crystalline structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction and using a scanning electron microscope. The absorption spectra were measured using an UV-Vis spectrometer. The incident photocurrent conversion efficiency was measured using a solar simulator (100 mW/cm2). The DSSCs based on TNT/TiO2 nanoparticle hybrids showed better photovoltaic performance than cells made purely of TiO2 nanoparticles.
Highlights
Dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs] have been intensively studied following their discovery in 1991
The high conversion efficiency achieved by the DSSC may be attributed to its uniquely porous titania film, which is usually prepared with titania nanoparticles
The DSSCs based on TiO2 nanoparticle/ TNT hybrids ranging from 0 to 100 wt.% showed higher values of FF, Voc, and Jsc, and higher efficiencies h than the cell based on pure TiO2 nanoparticles
Summary
Dye-sensitized solar cells [DSSCs] have been intensively studied following their discovery in 1991. The TTIP was mixed with ethanol, and distilled water was added drop by drop under vigorous stirring for 1 h This solution was peptized using nitric acid and heated under reflux at 80° C for 8 h. 5 g of TiO2 particles prepared by the sol-gel method were mixed with 500 ml of a 10-M NaOH aqueous solution, followed by hydrothermal treatment at 150°C (TNTs) in a Teflon-lined autoclave for 12 h. Preparation of TiO2 electrode films TiO2 nanoparticles and TNTs prepared by the sol-gel and hydrothermal methods were mixed at various weight ratios (without TNT, 9:1 (10 wt.%), 8:2 (20 wt.%), 7:3 (30 wt.%), 5:5 (50 wt.%), and 100 wt.% TNTs; total weight 6 g) and ground in a mortar. The active area of the resulting cell exposed to light was approximately 0.25 cm (0.5 cm × 0.5 cm)
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