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Improved‐Performance Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Using Nb‐Doped TiO 2 Electrodes: Efficient Electron Injection and Transfer
Author(s) -
Lü Xujie,
Mou Xinliang,
Wu Jianjun,
Zhang Dingwen,
Zhang Linlin,
Huang Fuqiang,
Xu Fangfang,
Huang Sumei
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200901292
Subject(s) - materials science , dye sensitized solar cell , anatase , doping , scanning electron microscope , solar cell , chemical engineering , energy conversion efficiency , transmission electron microscopy , nanotechnology , scanning transmission electron microscopy , electrode , conductivity , nanoparticle , electron transfer , titanium dioxide , optoelectronics , photocatalysis , composite material , catalysis , photochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , electrolyte , engineering
Well‐crystallized Nb‐doped anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles are prepared by a novel synthetic route and successfully used as the photoanode of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The homogenous distribution of Nb in the TiO 2 lattice is confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) elemental mapping and line‐scanning analyses. After Nb doping, the conductivity of the TiO 2 powder increases, and its flat‐band potential ( V fb ) has a positive shift. The energy‐conversion efficiency of a cell based on 5.0 mol% Nb‐doped TiO 2 is significantly better, by about 18.2%, compared to that of a cell based on undoped TiO 2 . The as‐prepared Nb‐doped TiO 2 material is proven in detail to be a better photoanode material than pure TiO 2 , and this new synthetic approach using a water‐soluble precursor provides a simple and versatile way to prepare excellent photoanode materials.