Double-layered TiO<sub>2</sub> cavity/nanoparticle photoelectrodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

doi:10.1007/s11706-023-0638-8

Front. Mater. Sci.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (1) : 230638 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-023-0638-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Double-layered TiO₂ cavity/nanoparticle photoelectrodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Zhen Li^1,², Libo Yu^1,²(

)

¹. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, China
². Key Laboratory of Hexi Corridor Resources Utilization of Gansu, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, China

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Abstract

TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) in the size of ~25 nm, namely P25, are very common material as the electron collecting layer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, the light-scattering improvement of TiO₂ NP photoelectrodes is still a challenge. Here, we built TiO₂ cavities on the top of the TiO₂ NP layer by using carbonaceous microspheres as the template, forming the TiO₂ cavity/nanoparticle (C/NP) photoelectrode for the application in DSSCs. The cavity amount in the TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode was controlled by adjusting the weight ratio of carbonaceous microspheres. SEM results confirm the successful formation of the double-layered TiO₂ C/NP electrode. J‒V tests show that the optimized TiO₂ C/NP electrode prepared with 25 wt.% carbonaceous microspheres contributes to remarkable improvement of the short-circuit current density (J_sc) and the power conversion efficiency (PCE). The best photovoltaic performance solar cell with the PCE of 9.08% is achieved with the optimized TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode, which is over 98% higher than that of the TiO₂ NP photoelectrode. Further investigations of UV-vis DRS, IPCE, OCVD, and EIS demonstrate that the competition between light scattering effect and charges recombination in this TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode is responsible for the PCE enhancement.

Keywords titanium dioxide dye sensitized solar cell cavity light scattering

Corresponding Author(s): Libo Yu

About author:

Changjian Wang and Zhiying Yang contributed equally to this work.

Issue Date: 01 March 2023

Cite this article:

Zhen Li,Libo Yu. Double-layered TiO₂ cavity/nanoparticle photoelectrodes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2023, 17(1): 230638.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-023-0638-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2023/V17/I1/230638

Fig.1 Morphology of carbonaceous microspheres: (a) SEM image; (b) TEM image.

Fig.2 (a)(b)(c) Top surface morphologies of TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrodes prepared by 12.5, 25, and 37.5 wt.% carbonaceous microspheres (from left to right). (d) The cross-section view of the TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode. (e) Magnified SEM image of the selected local zone from panel (d).

Fig.3 The formation mechanism of the TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode using carbonaceous microspheres as the hard template.

Tab.1 J?V parameters of DSSCs assembled with different photoelectrodes of TiO₂ NP and three types of TiO₂ C/NP

Fig.4 J?V curves of DSSCs based on TiO₂ NP, TiO₂ C/NP (12.5 wt.%), TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%), and TiO₂ C/NP (37.5 wt.%).

Fig.5 Configuration of the DSSC based on the TiO₂ C/NP photoelectrode.

Fig.6 N₂ adsorption?desorption curves of TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%).

Fig.7 (a) Diffused reflectance spectra of TiO₂ NP and TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%). (b) IPCE of DSSCs assembled with TiO₂ NP and TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%).

Fig.8 (a) OCVD curves of DSSCs assembled with TiO₂ NP, TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%), and TiO₂ C/NP (37.5 wt.%). (b) Electron lifetime of DSSCs assembled with TiO₂ NP, TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%), and TiO₂ C/NP (37.5 wt.%).

Tab.2 EIS fitting data of DSSCs assembled with different photoelectrodes of TiO₂ NP, TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%), and TiO₂ C/NP (37.5 wt.%)

Fig.9 EIS results of DSSCs assembled with TiO₂ NP, TiO₂ C/NP (25 wt.%), and TiO₂ C/NP (37.5 wt.%). The inset is equivalent circuit of DSSC.

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