Zirconium Oxide Post-treatment for TiO2 Photoelectrodes in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. (20th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Beom-Soo; Park, Jun-Yong; Kim, Chan-Soo; Kim, Seong-Bum; Song, Dong-Keun; Jang, Hee-Dong; Lee, Sung-Eun; Kim, Tae-Oh
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 174(2015)
• Page Start: 502
• Page End: 507
• Publication Date: 2015-08-20
• Subjects: Dye-sensitized solar cell -- post-treatment -- zirconium oxide -- transport time -- lifetime; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.06.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Highlights: Zirconium (Zr) was newly suggested as an alternative post-treatment material against TiCl4 in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Zr butoxide is a cheap, less toxic element and easier to handle than TiCl4 . Zr oxide-post-treated TiO2 electrodes enhanced the adsorption rate of N719. By Zr oxide-post-treatment on TiO2, the electron transport time was fast and the lifespan of excited electrons was increased. DSSCs with Zr oxide-post-treated photoelectrodes produced similar energy conversion efficiency as 7.03% to TiCl4 post-treatment. Abstract: Zirconium was newly utilized as a post-treatment material for photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and DSSCs with a high energy conversion efficiency were developed. The Zr oxide-post-treated TiO2 photoelectrodes were prepared by dipping Degussa P25 in a Zr butoxide solution, followed by calcination for 30 min at 475 °C. In the prepared sample, the particle size decreased, and the specific surface area increased, leading to improved dye adsorption. Zr oxide-post-treatment formed ZrO2 on TiO2 surfaces and the electron transport increased by the formation. This post-treatment decreased the recombinant ratio of electrons by reducing resistance in the interparticle electrode/dye/electrolyte. The energy conversion efficiency of Zr oxide-post-treated TiO2 photoelectrodes was 7.03%, which is a 61% improvement over P25 photoelectrodes and is similar to that of TiCl4 -post-treated TiO2 photoelectrodes (7.28%). This enhanced energy conversion efficiency could be attributed to the increased surface area, which enabled higher dye loading, and to the improved interparticle connections, which enhanced charge transport and reduced charge recombination.