Influence of an Al-blended TiO2 photoanode on the photovoltaic properties of n-DSSCs. (21st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jang, Bo Youn; Thogiti, Suresh; Cheruku, Rajesh; Kim, Jae Hong
• Is Part Of: Molecular crystals and liquid crystals. Volume 637(2016)
• Page Start: 96
• Page End: 104
• Publication Date: 2016-09-21
• Subjects: Dye-sensitized solar cells -- Photoelectrode -- Surface treatment -- TiO2 -- Al2O3; Molecular crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals -- Periodicals; Liquid crystals; Molecular crystals; Periodicals; 548
• DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2016.1198648
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1542-1406

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The performance of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (n-DSSCs) based on a Co complex redox electrolyte were investigated with a photoanode composed with mixer consists of both TiO2 and AlCl3 . The surface of TiO2 films coated on FTO glass substrates was amended by soaking them in a TiCl4 :AlCl3 blended aqueous solution at different molar ratios, and calcining them to yield the surface-modified photoelectrodes (Ti:Al/TiO2 ). An enhancement in the power conversion efficiency 2.02% of the resulting n-DSSCs with Ti:Al (9:1)/TiO2 compared to the reference cell by the plain TiO2 . The dark current measurements, incident photon-to-current conversion, and efficiency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that the combination of a mixer onto the TiO2 film led to the delay of the charge recombination among the photo-injected electrons and Co complex redox electrolyte, resulting in an enhanced short-circuit current and open-circuit current, compared to device without surface modification.