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Toward high‐efficiency dye‐sensitized solar cells with a photoanode fabricated via a simple water‐based formulation
Author(s) -
Lupitskyy Robert,
Vendra Venkat Kalyan,
Jasinski Jacek,
Amos Delaina A.,
Sunkara Mahendra K.,
Druffel Thad
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2502
Subject(s) - dye sensitized solar cell , titanium dioxide , materials science , nanoparticle , energy conversion efficiency , aqueous solution , transmission electron microscopy , solar cell , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , bridging (networking) , porosity , optoelectronics , chemistry , computer science , composite material , organic chemistry , electrode , engineering , electrolyte , computer network
An aqueous formulation containing commercially available P25 nanoparticles and a water‐soluble precursor—titanium (IV) bis(ammonium lactato)dihydroxide (TALH) has been developed and optimized for fabricating photoanodes in dye‐sensitized solar cells. An optimal formulation achieved a power conversion efficiency of 9.2%. Solar cell performance is significantly influenced by precursor concentration impacting the porosity and electron transport of the thin film. The use of TALH during processing is shown to enhance the electron transport in the resulting titanium dioxide nanoparticle network using transient decay measurements. Bridging between neighboring nanoparticles is confirmed using transmission electron microscopy explaining the enhanced electron transport. The developed formulation has several advantages, as it is water‐based, composed of inexpensive, non‐hazardous components, is easy to make, and does not require special handling. The formulation has great potential for industrial applications, in particular for DSC manufacturing using roll‐to‐roll technology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.