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Enhancing the Performance of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with a Gold‐Nanoflowers Box
Author(s) -
Zhang Lu,
Wang ZhongSheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201601228
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , materials science , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , chemistry , engineering , electrode , electrolyte
To improve the electron collection, electron lifetime, and light‐harvesting efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells simultaneously, Au nanoflowers were prepared and used to cover the entire TiO 2 film. Deposition of Au nanoflowers around the TiO 2 film formed a light‐scattering “box” that covered the entire TiO 2 film. Compared with a light‐scattering layer that only covers the top surface of TiO 2 , the Au‐nanoflowers box exhibited better light‐harvesting efficiency due to omnidirectional light scattering, faster electron transport (attributed to the formation of electron channels between the metallic Au nanoflowers and the electron‐collection electrode), and slower charge recombination. As a consequence, the short‐circuit photocurrent and open‐circuit photovoltage were both enhanced significantly, which improved the power conversion efficiency from 8.12 to 10.91 % (34 %) when an Au‐nanoflowers box was wrapped around the photoanode.