Ultra-rapid synthesis of highly porous and robust hierarchical ZnO films for dye sensitized solar cells. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tricoli, Antonio; Nasiri, Noushin; Chen, Hongjun; Wallerand, Anna S.; Righettoni, Marco
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 136(2016)
• Page Start: 553
• Page End: 559
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: Dye sensitized solar cells -- Highly porous structures -- ZnO films; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2016.07.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: One-step flame-synthesis of hierarchical and highly porous ZnO nanoparticle films is investigated. Highly porous morphologies are introduced as a promising alternative to state-of-the-art dense films. A linear increase in conversion efficiency up to 200 μm is observed. Abstract: Dye sensitized solar cells are a promising third generation solar cell technology bearing considerable commercial potential. Here, we present the synthesis of robust, aerogel-like ZnO nanoparticle films with extremely high porosity. These film morphologies enable synthesis of stable cells with linearly increasing photocurrent up to a working-electrode thickness of 200 μm. Optimized films led to more than 100% efficiency enhancement with respect to more dense film morphologies made by wet-deposition of the same ZnO nanoparticles. These results suggest that optimization of the semiconductor-electrolyte nano-interface by a hierarchical multi-scale morphology has the potential to minimize electron-holes recombination enabling efficient thick cells with substantially higher surface area for dye absorption.