Atmospheric-pressure-plasma-jet processed nanoporous TiO₂photoanodes and Pt counter-electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

ARTICLE This journal isWe demonstrate the rapid fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with both TiO2 photoanodes and Pt counter-electrodes processed using atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs). The rapid conversion of PtCl6 2to Pt for the counter-electrode of DSSCs is achieved using a 1-min 360°C air-quenched N2 APPJ. The APPJ-processed Pt counter-electrode is then used together with an APPJ-calcined nanoporous TiO2 photoanode to make the DSSCs that exhibit comparable efficiencies to those of cells fabricated using conventional furnace-calcination processes. APPJs can reduce the calcination durations from 30 min to 4 min for the nanoporous TiO2 photoanode and from 15 min to 1 min for the Pt counter electrode. The ultra-short processes of DSSCs are benefited from the synergistic effects of the energetic nitrogen molecules and the heat of APPJs.

Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet Processed Pt-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxides for Counter-Electrodes of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…Some typical types of APPs include dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), corona discharge, atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs), and microplasmas. Various plasma excitation techniques can produce APPs with different gas temperatures and charge densities; the synergetic effects of a highly energetic plasma species and temperature can achieve versatile functions in material processing [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

“…The distance between the APPJ nozzle exit and the sample stage was 2 cm, and the gap between the quartz tube and the sample stage was 1 mm. More details have been described elsewhere [3,[6][7][8][9][10]24]. The substrate temperature was measured using a K-type thermocouple and recorded with a computer.…”

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition of TiO2: A Review

“…In another study, Chou et al also showed the benefits of APPJ treatment used to calcinate a TiO 2 photoanode incorporated into a DSSC [115]. The authors were able to obtain a significantly shorter time for calcination of electrodes for the DSSC, which exhibited cell performance comparable to that obtained from a cell for which a furnace was used for electrode calcination.…”

“…The authors were able to obtain a significantly shorter time for calcination of electrodes for the DSSC, which exhibited cell performance comparable to that obtained from a cell for which a furnace was used for electrode calcination. APPJ's ultrafast deposition and calcination of photoanodes enables the rapid preparation of DSSCs, which makes this technology suitable for industrial roll-to-roll fabrication [115]. A recent review summarized a large number of studies and indicated future directions for the technology, in which APPJ can be used to process porous materials, including TiO 2 , to advance its applications in energy harvesting and storage devices [116].…”

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jet processed SnO2/CNT nanocomposite for supercapacitor application

“…In our previous studies, we have used dc pulse atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) to sinter nanoporous oxides [18,20,21,27,28], reduced graphene oxides and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [29,30], and oxide/CNT nanocomposites [22]. Nanoporous SnO 2 has been sintered using APPJs [21].…”