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Dye-sensitized solar cells based on a single layer deposition of TiO 2 from a new formulation paste and their photovoltaic performance

Mohammadi, M. R ; Sharif University of Technology

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2012.06.005
  3. Abstract:
  4. A new strategy for enhancing the efficiency and reducing the production cost of TiO 2 solar cells by design of a new formulated TiO 2 paste with tailored crystal structure and morphology is reported. The conventional three- or four-fold layer deposition process was eliminated and replaced by a single layer deposition of TiO 2 compound. Different TiO 2 pastes with various crystal structures, morphologies and crystallite sizes were prepared by an aqueous particulate sol-gel process. Based on simultaneous differential thermal (SDT) analysis the minimum annealing temperature to obtain organic-free TiO 2 paste was determined at 400°C, being one of the lowest crystallization temperatures of TiO 2 photoanode electrodes for solar cell application. Photovoltaic measurements showed that TiO 2 solar cell with pure anatase crystal structure had higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than that made of pure rutile-TiO 2. However, the PCE of solar cells depends on the anatase to rutile weight ratio, reaching a maximum at a specific value due to the synergic effect between anatase and rutile TiO 2 nanoparticles. Moreover, it was found that the PCE of solar cells made of crystalline TiO 2 powders was much higher, increasing in the range 32-84% depending on anatase to rutile weight ratio, than that of prepared by amorphous powders. TiO 2 solar cell with the morphology of mixtures of nanoparticles and microparticles had higher PCE than the solar cell with the same phase composition containing TiO 2 nanoparticles due to the role of TiO 2 microparticles as light scattering particles. The presented strategy would open up new insight into fabrication and structural design of low-cost TiO 2 solar cells with high power conversion efficiency
  5. Keywords:
  6. Anatase to rutile weight ratio ; Microparticle ; Nanoparticle ; TiO 2 ; Dye-Sensitized solar cell ; Micro particles ; New paste ; TiO ; Weight ratios ; Conversion efficiency ; Morphology ; Nanoparticles ; Oxide minerals ; Photoelectrochemical cells ; Powders ; Sol-gel process ; Solar cells ; Structural design ; Titanium dioxide ; Crystal structure ; Crystallinity ; Crystallization ; Design ; Dye ; Electrode ; Energy efficiency ; Fuel cell ; Light scattering ; Nanotechnology ; Performance assessment ; Photovoltaic system ; Production cost ; Renewable resource ; Rutile ; Solar power ; Titanium
  7. Source: Solar Energy ; Volume 86, Issue 9 , 2012 , Pages 2654-2664 ; 0038092X (ISSN)
  8. URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X12002162