Differently sintered TiOx hole blocking layers for solution processed solar cells

Mikula, Milan; Beková, Zuzana; Hvojník, Matej; Hatala, Michal; Mikolášek, Miroslav; Müllerová, Jarmila; Jergel, M.; Gemeiner, Pavol

doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.05.180

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Its control has been pointed as a key factor in the production of high efficient perovskites solar cells * Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. [1][2][3][4][5][6], dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) [5,[7][8][9][10][11][12] and other photovoltaic technologies [13][14][15]. Charge recombination or dark current typically occurs as the photogenerated charge carriers react with redox-active species before reaching the external circuit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, depending on its composition and morphology, the blocking layers can also facilitate the electron transfer from the mesoporous TiO 2 film to FTO as it can improve the interfacial contact between these two components. The role of the blocking layers has been established by Cameron and Peter [18,19] and, since then, different strategies have been developed to engineer effective blocking layers for DSCs [5,7,[20][21][22][23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Nascimento

Brussasco

Garcia

et al. 2020

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter

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All inorganic layer-by-layer (LbL) thin films composed by TiO2 nanoparticles and [Al(OH)4]− anions (TiO 2 /AlO x ) as well as Al2O3 and Nb2O5 nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 /Nb 2 O 5 ) have been deposited to fluorine-doped tin-oxide coated glass (FTO) surfaces and applied as blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Structural and morphological characterization of the LbL films by different techniques reveal that in TiO 2 /AlO x assembly, aluminate anions undergo condensation reactions on the TiO2 surface leading to the formation of highly homogeneous films with unique optical properties. After 25 depositions transmittance losses below 10% in relation to the bare FTO substrate are observed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that TiO 2 /AlO x layers impose an effective barrier for the charge recombination at FTO/electrolyte interface with an electron exchange time constant 50-fold higher than that for bare FTO. As a result, an improvement of 85% in the overall conversion efficiency of DSCs was observed with the employment of TiO2/AlOx blocking layers. Al 2 O 3 /Nb 2 O 5 LbL films can also work as blocking layers in DSCs but not as efficient, which is associated with the poor homogeneity of the film and its capacitive behavior. The production of cost-effective blocking layers with a low light scattering in the visible region is an important feature toward the application of DSC in other Building-integrated photovoltaic applications.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Nascimento

Brussasco

Garcia

et al. 2020

J. Phys.: Condens. Matter

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“…Notable that the residual ligand evidenced from the FTIR is originated from the AcAc ligands, whereas the characteristic peaks of propyl ligand are not observed due to the easily hydrolyzed and pyrolyzed isopropyl ligand. [ 49 ] The observed AcAc ligand residues reveal that the formation of Ti 3+ is mainly related to the sluggish and temperature‐dependent hydrolysis process of TIAA. Therefore, it is proposed (as illustrated in Figure 5e) that during the hydrolysis and condensation of TIAA, TiO x matrix is formed while the existence of AcAc would enable the transformation of Ti 4+ + HAcAc → Ti 3+ + ·AcAc and finally result in the presence of Ti 3+ species and accompanying oxygen vacancy within the TiO x matrix.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering a Kesterite‐Based Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from NO_x Reduction

et al. 2022

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Ammonia is a key chemical feedstock for industry as well as future carbon‐free fuel and transportable vector for renewable energy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) ammonia synthesis from NOx reduction reaction (NOxRR) provides not only a promising alternative to the energy‐intensive Haber–Bosch process through direct solar‐to‐ammonia conversion, but a sustainable solution for balancing the global nitrogen cycle by restoring ammonia from wastewater. In this work, selective ammonia synthesis from PEC NOxRR by a kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4 [CZTS]) photocathode through loading defect‐engineered TiOx cocatalyst on a CdS/CZTS photocathode (TiOx/CdS/CZTS) is demonstrated. The uniquely designed photocathode enables selective ammonia production from NOxRR, yielding up to 89.1% Faradaic efficiency (FE) (0.1 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) with a remarkable positive onset potential (0.38 V vs RHE). By tailoring the amount of surface defective Ti3+ species, the adsorption of reactant NO3− and *NO2 intermediate is significantly promoted while the full coverage of TiOx also suppresses NO2− liberation as a by‐product, contributing to high ammonia selectivity. Further attempts on PEC ammonia synthesis from simulated wastewater show good FE of 64.9%, unveiling the potential of using the kesterite‐based photocathode for sustainably restoring ammonia from nitrate‐rich wastewater.

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“…The role of the electron transport layer (ETL) of carbon-based perovskite solar cell (C-PSC) is to extract and transport electrons from the perovskite layer towards the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) electrode (glass or PET substrate with FTO or ITO layer). The quality of the ETL depends on two main parameters: 1) the preparation process and the composition of the used dispersion, which determine its thickness, roughness, and compactness; 2) the surface properties of the used substrate [1]. The most suitable ETL layer is very thin (<50 nm), which results in defects that cause internal short-circuits after the undesirable contact between the perovskite and TCO [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of atmospheric cold plasma cleaning of FTO substrates on the quality of TiO2 electron transport layers for printed carbon-based perovskite solar cells

Hvojník

Vida

Homola

et al. 2020

NANOCON Conference Proeedings

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In this work, TiO2 electron transport layers (ETL) of printed perovskite solar cells with back carbon electrode (C-PSCs) were prepared on uncleaned, chemically cleaned, and plasma-treated FTO substrates. The effect of cleaning procedure type on the quality of TiO2 ETL has been characterised by XPS and SEM. The C-PSCs with FTO substrates treated by low-temperature atmospheric plasma at ambient air for 10 s reached approximately the same efficiency (4.4%) as with the chemically cleaned FTO (4.5%). From optical microscope and SEM images, it was observed that the plasma cleaned the FTO substrate to some extent, thereby reducing the number of defects and pinholes occurring in the blocking layer. XPS measurements confirmed that chemical and plasma treatment significantly reduced organic species on the FTO surface.

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Differently sintered TiOx hole blocking layers for solution processed solar cells

Cited by 4 publications

References 20 publications

Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Engineering a Kesterite‐Based Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from NO_x Reduction

The effect of atmospheric cold plasma cleaning of FTO substrates on the quality of TiO2 electron transport layers for printed carbon-based perovskite solar cells

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Differently sintered TiOx hole blocking layers for solution processed solar cells

Cited by 4 publications

References 20 publications

Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Aluminum oxides as alternative building blocks for efficient layer-by-layer blocking layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

Engineering a Kesterite‐Based Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from NOx Reduction

The effect of atmospheric cold plasma cleaning of FTO substrates on the quality of TiO2 electron transport layers for printed carbon-based perovskite solar cells

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Engineering a Kesterite‐Based Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Ammonia Synthesis from NO_x Reduction