Efficiency enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells by optimization of electrospun ZnO nanowire/nanoparticle hybrid photoanode and combined modification. (1st May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Lixin; Du, Pingfan; Xiong, Jie; Ko, Frank; Cui, Can
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 163(2015)
• Page Start: 330
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2015-05-01
• Subjects: Zinc oxide -- Multi-walled carbon nanotubes -- Titanium tetrachloride -- Electrospinning -- Dye-sensitized solar cells; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.02.093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: ZnO nanoparticles (ZNPs) and ZnO nanowires (ZNWs) were fabricated via electrospinning and calcination. The ZNPs and ZNWs were blended with different mass ratio by varying ZNWs from 0% to 100% and serviced as photoanodic film of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) via spin coating. The efficiency of these DSSCs reached a maximum of 2.6% at 20 wt% ZNWs. In order to improve the photovoltaic properties of ZNWs/ZNPs hybrid photoanodic film, the ZNWs/ZNPs hybrid film was modified by the incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into ZnO matrix including both ZNPs and ZNWs combined with TiCl4 post-treatment. As a result, the efficiency of DSSCs increased from 2.6% to 3.8%, which is mainly attributed to the increased dye loading, faster electron transport, and less electron loss.