Open AccessThe Application of Electrospun Titania Nanofibers in Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Author(s) -
Hana Krýsová,
Arnošt Zukal,
Jana Trckova-Barakova,
Aravind Kumar Chandiran,
Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin,
Michaël Grätzel,
Ladislav Kavan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2013.149
Subject(s) - materials science , dye sensitized solar cell , nanofiber , anatase , composite number , solar cell , chemical engineering , energy conversion efficiency , nanoparticle , electrolyte , electrospinning , nanocrystalline material , electrode , nanocomposite , nanotechnology , photocatalysis , composite material , optoelectronics , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering
Titania nanofibers were fabricated using the industrial NanospiderTM technology. The preparative protocol was optimized by screening various precursor materials to get pure anatase nanofibers. Composite films were prepared by mixing a commercial paste of nanocrystalline anatase particles with the electrospun nanofibers, which were shortened by milling. The composite films were sensitized by Ru-bipyridine dye (coded C106) and the solar conversion efficiency was tested in a dye-sensitized solar cell filled with iodide-based electrolyte solution (coded Z960). The solar conversion efficiency of a solar cell with the optimized composite electrode (? = 7.53% at AM 1.5 irradiation) outperforms that of a solar cell with pure nanoparticle film (? = 5.44%). Still larger improvement was found for lower light intensities. At 10% sun illumination, the best composite electrode showed ? = 7.04%, referenced to that of pure nanoparticle film (? = 4.69%). There are non-monotonic relations between the film's surface area, dye sorption capacity and solar performance of nanofiber-containing composite films, but the beneficial effect of the nanofiber morphology for enhancement of the solar efficiency has been demonstrated.