Premium
Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performances in Flexible Mesoscopic Solar Cells: An Effective Light‐Scattering Material
Author(s) -
Yang Yuke,
Cui Lingling,
Wang Bo,
Qiao Ru,
Chen Dehong,
Fan Jiajie,
Shao Guosheng,
Zhang Xiao Li
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemphotochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2367-0932
DOI - 10.1002/cptc.201800089
Subject(s) - materials science , photocurrent , light scattering , mesoscopic physics , dye sensitized solar cell , optoelectronics , energy conversion efficiency , scattering , surface roughness , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , optics , composite material , electrode , electrolyte , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
The development of a suitable material with both effective light scattering and high surface adhesion properties that would allow a low‐temperature fabrication of a mechanically stable light trapping layer is critical for today's flexible plastic dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to reach comparable high power conversion efficiency (PEC) towards commercialization. In the present work, submicron‐sized titania particles of intensive surface roughness were strategically synthesized using a combined sol–gel and thermolysis approach. When used as a light‐trapping layer in flexible DSCs, the ideal strong light scattering ability of such materials enabled significant enhancement of light harvesting and thus greatly contributed to the photocurrent performances. This led to a nearly 30 % PEC improvement when compared to the flexible DSCs using nanoparticle‐based photoanodes of a similar film thickness.