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Tin Oxide Microspheres with Exposed {101} Facets for Dye‐sensitized Solar Cells: Enhanced Photocurrent and Photovoltage
Author(s) -
Peng Wenqin,
Yang Xudong,
Chen Zhenhua,
Zhang Jing,
Chen Han,
Zhang Kun,
Han Liyuan
Publication year - 2014
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.201300644
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , photocurrent , materials science , tin oxide , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , microsphere , open circuit voltage , photovoltaic system , light scattering , tin , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , anode , scattering , chemical engineering , electrolyte , optics , chemistry , electrode , doping , voltage , ecology , engineering , biology , physics , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
Hierarchical SnO 2 microspheres with exposed {101} facets are synthesized by a one‐pot solvothermal reaction and explored as a scattering layer on top of a SnO 2 nanoparticle film for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The microspheres not only enhance photon harvesting by effective light scattering/reflecting but also improve the energy level of the conduction band edge of the SnO 2 photoanode, which leads to a simultaneous increase of the short‐circuit photocurrent by 17 % and open‐circuit photovoltage by 20 %. An improved overall conversion efficiency of 3.46 % is achieved for DSCs using the SnO 2 microspheres, which is the highest value reported so far for pure‐SnO 2 DSCs. Moreover, the SnO 2 ‐microsphere DSCs exhibit a better photostability than the conventional TiO 2 DSCs under simulated full sunlight.