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Controlling Interfacial Recombination in Aqueous Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells by Octadecyltrichlorosilane Surface Treatment
Author(s) -
Dong Cunku,
Xiang Wanchun,
Huang Fuzhi,
Fu Dongchuan,
Huang Wenchao,
Bach Udo,
Cheng YiBing,
Li Xin,
Spiccia Leone
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201400723
Subject(s) - octadecyltrichlorosilane , aqueous solution , materials science , dye sensitized solar cell , alkyl , chemical engineering , cobalt , photovoltaic system , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , monolayer , electrode , metallurgy , ecology , biology , engineering , electrolyte
A general and convenient strategy is proposed for enhancing photovoltaic performance of aqueous dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) through the surface modification of titania using an organic alkyl silane. Introduction of octadecyltrichlorosilane on the surface of dyed titania photoanode as an organic barrier layer leads to the efficient suppression of electron recombination with oxidized cobalt species by restricting access of the cobalt redox couple to the titania surface. The champion ODTS‐treated aqueous DSCs (0.25 m M ODTS in hexane for 5 min) exhibit a V oc of 821±4 mV and J sc of 10.17±0.21 mA cm −2 , yielding a record PCE of 5.64±0.10 %. This surface treatment thus serves as a promising post‐dye strategy for improving the photovoltaic performance of other aqueous DSCs.