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Reducing Mass‐Transport Limitations in Cobalt‐Electrolyte‐Based Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells by Photoanode Modification
Author(s) -
Trang Pham Thi Thu,
Koh Teck Ming,
omura Kazuteru,
Lam Yeng Ming,
Mathews Nripan,
Mhaisalkar Subodh
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201301056
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , electrolyte , dielectric spectroscopy , photocurrent , cobalt , mesoporous material , diffusion , materials science , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , ionic bonding , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , electrode , ion , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , physics , engineering , thermodynamics , catalysis
Mass transport has been identified as a limiting problem in the photovoltaic performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells based on electrolytes consisting of ionic liquids or cobalt complexes. A mixed TiO 2 macroporous–mesoporous morphology employed as photoanode is demonstrated to assist the diffusion of electrolytes with higher viscosity or consisting of bulky redox mediators, such as cobalt di‐tert‐butyl bipyridine [Co(dtb) 3 ] 2+/3+ . This morphology with large pores improves the non‐linearity of photocurrent response to light intensity indicating better diffusion. The incorporated sub‐micrometer pores also reduce recombination and decrease diffusion resistance, as revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.