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Efficiency Enhancement of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells by the Addition of an Oxidizing Agent to the TiO 2 Paste
Author(s) -
Ko KwanWoo,
Lee Minoh,
Sekhon S. S.,
Balasingam Suresh Kannan,
Han ChiHwan,
Jun Yongseok
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201300280
Subject(s) - oxidizing agent , calcination , materials science , chemical engineering , energy conversion efficiency , adsorption , carbon fibers , dye sensitized solar cell , microstructure , catalysis , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , composite material , electrolyte , optoelectronics , composite number , engineering
The addition of various amounts of a strong oxidizing agent (3,5‐dinitrosalicyclic acid, DNSA) to TiO 2 paste enhances the solar‐to‐electrical‐energy conversion efficiency of the corresponding dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Maximum performance was obtained from a device that was fabricated by using a TiO 2 paste with 2 wt % DNSA, which showed a short‐circuit current density of 17.88 mA cm −2 , an open‐circuit voltage of 0.78 V, and an overall conversion efficiency of 9.62 %, which was an improvement in comparison to reference cells without DNSA. This improvement was rationalized in terms of the amount of residual carbon (formed due to the oxidation of binders) remaining on the TiO 2 surface. Addition of a larger amount of oxidizing agent led to a smaller amount of residual carbon on the TiO 2 surface. This smaller amount of residual carbon enhanced the adsorption of a larger number of dye molecules on the TiO 2 surface. The addition of an oxidizing agent facilitated the removal of more residual organic species during the high‐temperature calcination process while causing no change in the surface morphology and microstructure of the TiO 2 film.