Dual morphology titanium dioxide for dye sensitized solar cells

Abstract

Anatase TiO2 displaying dual morphologies were synthesized with a simple chemical route via a single step. A strong correlation between the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) device performance and the obtained dual morphologies are highlighted using relevant evidences from UV-vis and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman analysis, field emission scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, current-voltage characteristics and impedance analysis. Structural investigation revealed that the interested medium in this work employed for the synthesis of TiO2 produced different types of dual morphologies such as nanospheres with nanoparticles (NSNP), microsphere decorated with nanoparticles (μSNP) and nanoparticles with stone like features (NPS). UVvis and DRS results indicated the ability of the materials to assist with diffused reflectance and optical absorption of the screen printed photoanodes. In addition, an investigation of Raman vibrational characteristics was carried out in detail using synchronous and asynchronous 2D correlation analysis. The high intense Eg anatase mode of Raman spectrum was simulated using a phonon confinement model and its normalised spectra are compared with an experimental data. The resultant performances in the DSSCs were not indicative by the material properties; so, the charge transfer resistance (Rct) and recombination properties of the photoanode were investigated. These results showed that the Nyquist plot of NSNP possesses the smallest diameter, which reveals that the device based on NSNP offers the lowest Rct value that accounts for the higher conversion efficiencies when compared with the DSSC device based on photoanodes μSNP and NSP. It can be concluded that the improved power conversion efficiency shown by photoanode fabricated using NSNP has the dual role of optimum surface area for dye loading and light scattering centres. These properties, when optimized along with the offered pathway for electrolyte diffusion to the dye degeneration with less Rct, could lead to better photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Localized phonons in Raman spectra of nanoparticles and disordered media

“…Despite that the use of an averaged 1D dispersion induces a certain degree of arbitrariness in the model, it is still applied in a number of recent works due to the simplicity of calculations …”

Impact of coupled plasmonic effect with multishaped silver nanoparticles on efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells

“…Cleaned FTO substrates were immersed into 90mM TiCl 4 solution at 70°C for 30mins followed by annealing at 450°C for 30mins. TiO 2 paste was prepared according to our previous work [41].The prepared TiO 2 paste was printed on pre-treated FTO substrate by screen printing method with an active area of the device 0.25cm 2 . The coated TiO 2 films were annealed at 450°C for 30mins.…”

Dye‐sensitized solar cells as promising candidates for underwater photovoltaic applications

“…One class of promising PV are dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which are able to harness indoor lights and shows unprecedented power conversion efficiencies up to 34.5% using an artificial warm white light 26–28 . DSSCs' performance has been steadily improving over the years, 29 because there are many opportunities to utilize different materials, microstructures, and natural pigments to improve PCE 27–32 . Additionally, DSSCs possess unique advantages such as simple fabrication process, cost‐effectiveness, and locally procurable raw materials, all of which makes them viable for commercialization in an environmentally sustainable way 33–37 .…”

“…[26][27][28] DSSCs' performance has been steadily improving over the years, 29 because there are many opportunities to utilize different materials, microstructures, and natural pigments to improve PCE. [27][28][29][30][31][32] Additionally, DSSCs possess unique advantages such as simple fabrication process, cost-effectiveness, and locally procurable raw materials, all of which makes them viable for commercialization in an environmentally sustainable way. [33][34][35][36][37] In a recent study, Li and co-workers fabricated DSSCs using natural and artificial phycobilisomes and mentioned that these devices has the capability to capture underwater low light, but, they carried out all measurements in under full sun conditions.…”