Premium
Energy Band Transition and Voltage Compensation via Surface Stoichiometry Alteration in p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Xin Chenghao,
Wang Yu,
Zhang Shicong,
Xu Liang,
Yu Ying,
Xiang Huaide,
Wu Wenjun,
Hua Jianli
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physica status solidi (rrl) – rapid research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.786
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1862-6270
pISSN - 1862-6254
DOI - 10.1002/pssr.201700258
Subject(s) - non blocking i/o , dye sensitized solar cell , materials science , photovoltaic system , electrode , open circuit voltage , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , stoichiometry , voltage , photovoltaic effect , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrical engineering , catalysis , biochemistry , electrolyte , engineering
To fundamentally ameliorate the photovoltaic performances of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), p‐type DSSCs (p‐DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention over the last two decades. Herein, by means of a modification with a Ni(NO 3 ) 2 aqueous solution, the stoichiometry of Ni atoms on the surface of a NiO electrode markedly increased. As a result of the change in donor ability and built‐in electric field, the quasi‐Fermi level and the valence band of the semiconductor were greatly reduced, thus effectively improving the open‐circuit voltage of the NiO‐film‐based photovoltaic device. In addition, the increased short‐circuit current density was attributed to the change of the surface distribution state of the sensitizer. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic device based on the Ni‐salt‐modified electrode increased by 35.7% from 0.14 to 0.19% compared to that of the plain electrode. This method opens a new strategy to improve the photovoltaic efficiencies of p‐DSSCs.