Wet-process preparation of nickel-based photoanode for TCO-less fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Low-cost ZnO-type fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) without transparent conductive oxide (TCO) were for the first time assembled through a low-temperature all-wet process, using a series of Ni-based composite fiber. Both Ni layer morphology and ZnO nano-array structure evidently influenced the performance of the corresponding DSSC. For applications in both liquid type and all-solid CuI type fiber-shaped DSSCs, the Ni-based photoanode is comparable with the Ti- or Fe-based photoanode. Our all-solid CuI type fiber-shaped DSSCs was even better than that of the reported all-solid Ti- or Fe-based devices with the same oxide thickness. Electrochemical analysis further indicated that side reactions on the electrode/electrolyte interface could be effectively suppressed after a layer of Ni plated. Even for Cu wire, of which its interfacial side reactions are too complicated for application in DSSC, the Cu/Ni composite fiber still works well. Similar technology can be used to fabricate many other low-cost and light-weight conductive fibers, which are potential photoanode materials for highly efficient TCO-less DSSCs.