Double-Layer TiO2 Electrodes with Controlled Phase Composition and Morphology for Efficient Light Management in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

M. Abdi-Jalebi, M. R. Mohammadi, D. J. Fray

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The light-scattering effect in the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was studied by controlling TiO2 phase composition and morphology by fabrication of double-layer cells with different arrangement modes. The starting material for preparation of TiO2 cells was synthesized by an aqueous sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopic analyses revealed that TiO2 nanoparticles had particle size ranging between 18 and 44 nm. The optical property and band gap energy of TiO2 nanoparticles were studied through UV-Vis absorption. The indirect optical band gap energy of anatase and rutile nanoparticles was found to be 3.47 and 3.41 eV, respectively. The double-layer DSC made of nanostructured TiO2 film with phase composition of 78 % anatase and 22 % rutile as the under-layer and mixtures of anatase-nanoparticles and anatase-microparticles as the over-layer (i.e., NM solar cell) was shown the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.04 % and open circuit voltage of 795 mV. This was achieved due to the optimal balance between the light scattering effect and dye sensitization parameters. Optimum light scattering of photoanode led to improve the PCE of NM double-layer solar cell which was demonstrated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1029-1045
    Number of pages17
    JournalJournal of Cluster Science
    Volume25
    Issue number4
    Early online date11 Feb 2014
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2014

    Keywords

    • Dye-sensitized solar cell
    • Light-scattering effect
    • Nanoparticles

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Chemistry(all)
    • Materials Science(all)
    • Condensed Matter Physics

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