Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on HfO2 modified TiO2 electrodes

Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of WO3 film with HfO2 passivation layer

“…5. Compared with WO 3 , the absorbance value is slightly increased at the region of 470e600 nm, which is similar as Kim's work [38]. It can be ascribed to the surface of WO 3 has been changed after the loading of HfO 2 .…”

“…It can be coated on the surface of materials via sputtering with pure Hf target [40], atomic layer deposition with hafnium tetrachloride gas and water vapor [37], or hydrolyze with hafnium chloride and hafnium isopropoxide [38]. Kim et al coated the HfO 2 layer over TiO 2 films, and the photo conversion efficiency of the solar cell was improved from 5.67 to 9.59% [38]. Even though the enhancement of photo conversion efficiency is interesting, the precursors of HfO 2 (hafnium chloride and hafnium isopropoxide) are more instable and expensive than the HfO 2 powder.…”

Effect of Surface Passivation on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Performance of WO3 Vertical Plate-Like Films

“…The light-absorbance properties of WO3 vertical plate-like film before and after the surface passivation were probed with UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, as shown in Figure 5. Compared with WO3, a broad background absorption in the visible light region is observed after the surface passivation, which is similar to Kim's work [23]. It can be ascribed to the fact that the surface of WO3 plate has been changed after the loading of HfO2.…”

“…Baroughi et al found that the incorporation of HfO2 layer resulted in a 69% improvement in the efficiency of the cell [22]. Kim et al gained a similar result, and the lifetime of photoelectron increased after introducing hafnium oxide layer that could effectively retard the electron recombination process between nanocrystalline TiO2 and electrolyte [23]. Ziegler et al deposited HfO2 or TiO2 compact layer on the surfaces of ITO nanowires, and then coated porous TiO2 layer.…”

TiO2/polyisothianaphthene—A novel hybrid nanocomposite as highly efficient photoanode in dye sensitized solar cell

“…Alternatively, the incorporation of high specific surface area nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene into TiO 2 had been practiced [8.9]. Also, inorganic materials like CaCO 3 [10], Al 2 O 3 [11], and HfO 2 [12] were endowed to improve the basicity of TiO 2 which would enable the enhanced adsorption of particularly acid dye molecules at the photoanode.…”