Effects of TiO{sub 2} film thickness on photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cell and its enhanced performance by graphene combination

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2013.08.058· OSTI ID:22341825

Zhang, Haiyan ^[1]; Wang, Wenguang; Liu, Hui; Wang, Rong; Chen, Yiming ^[1]; Wang, Zhiwei ^[2]

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1. School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center 100#, Guangzhou 510006 (China)
2. Anhui Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Nanostructures Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031 (China)

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • DSSC based on TiO{sub 2} film with 8 printing layers showed the highest efficiency. • The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSC increased from 5.52% to 6.49% by graphene combination. • A mechanism for the enhanced performance of the DSSC was proposed. - Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells based on TiO{sub 2} films with different printing layers (6-10) were fabricated by screen printing method. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The effects of thickness on the photoelectric conversion performance of the as-fabricated DSSCs were investigated. An optimum photoelectric conversion efficiency of 5.52% was obtained in a DSSC with 8 printing layers. Furthermore, after a moderate amount of graphene was combined with TiO{sub 2}, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSC based on graphene/TiO{sub 2} composite film rose from 5.52% to 6.49%, with an increase of η by 17.6%. The results indicated that graphene not only enhances the transport of electrons from the film to the fluorine doped tin oxide substrates and reduces the charge recombination rate, but also reduces the electrolyte–electrode interfacial resistance, clearly increasing the photoelectric conversion efficiency.

• OSTI ID: 22341825
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Journal Name: Materials Research Bulletin Vol. 49; ISSN MRBUAC; ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROLYTES
FILMS
FLUORINE
GRAPHENE
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOLAR CELLS
SUBSTRATES
THICKNESS
TIN OXIDES
TITANIUM OXIDES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION