Enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells by rare-earth doped oxide of SrAl2O4:Eu3+. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Lijun; Guo, Weihua; Hao, Hongshun; Su, Qing; Jin, Shanshan; Li, Hong; Hu, Xiaofei; Qin, Lei; Gao, Wenyuan; Liu, Guishan
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 76(2016)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 465
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Nanostructures -- Thin films -- Sol–gel chemistry -- Optical properties -- Phosphors; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2016.01.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Current–voltage characteristics of DSSCs based on the photoanodes doping different SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ and doping 3% SrAl2 O4 . Highlights: A down-conversion (DC) nanocrystal (SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ ) was synthesized. The effect of SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ doped in photoanode in DSSCs was investigated. SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ doped in photoanode appeared the better photovoltaic performances. The dual function of DC and p-type doping effect were explained. Abstract: SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ down-conversion (DC) nanocrystals were synthesized by a sol–gel method and then doped in TiO2 as a photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Differential thermal analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller analysis confirmed the formation of SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals with diameters of ∼47 nm, pore size of ∼25 nm, sintering temperature of 1300 °C. The photoluminescence and UV–vis absorption spectra of the SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ revealed a DC from ultraviolet light to visible light which matched the strong absorbing region of the N719 dye. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSCs with a TiO2 photoanode doped with 3 wt% SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ was 20% higher than that with a pure TiO2 photoanode. This phenomenon could be mainly explained by SrAl2 O4 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals' ability of DC and increased the short-circuit current density. It could be minorly due to the p-type doping effect and slightly improved the open-circuit voltage.