Influence of Surface Modifier Molecular Structures on the Photovoltaic Performance of Sb₂S₃‐Sensitized TiO₂ Nanorod Array Solar Cells

Abstract

Herein, Sb2S3‐sensitized TiO2 nanorod arrays are prepared by the pyrolysis of 1.2 m antimony–thiourea complex solution in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 270 °C for 10 min. Various surface modifiers with different functional groups and carbon numbers of C10H21PO3H2, C12H25SO3Na, C3H7COOH, C5H11COOH, C7H15COOH, C11H23COOH, C13H27COOH, C15H31COOH, and C17H35COOH are applied to modify Sb2S3‐sensitized TiO2 nanorod arrays. The corresponding solar cells are fabricated, and their photovoltaic performances are evaluated. To the different functional group surface modifiers, the improvement of functional group on photovoltaic performance is of the order of COOH > PO3H2> SO3Na. To the different carbon number (4–18) surface modifiers, RCOOH with carbon number range of 8–12 exhibits better photovoltaic performance. Moreover, the Sb2S3‐sensitized TiO2 nanorod array solar cells with C11H23COOH achieve the best photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.37% with the open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.53 V, short‐circuit current density (Jsc) of 16.98 mA cm−2, fill factor (FF) of 60.66%, and the average PCE of 5.11 ± 0.21% with the Voc of 0.52 ± 0.01 V, Jsc of 16.65 ± 0.24 mA cm−2, and FF of 58.93 ± 1.21%. The PCE of 5.37% corresponding to the use of spiro‐OMeTAD as the hole‐transporting material is a relatively high PCE for Sb2S3 solar cells.

Nanostructured CdS Buffer Layer Fabricated with a Simple Spin‐Coating Method for Sb2S3 Solar Cells

“…[11] Moreover, we can observe the FTO bottom electrode due to the assembling and shrinking of CdS. As reported by Shi and coworkers, [12] the nanostructured buffer layer is in favor of the electron transformation of Sb 2 S 3 absorbing layer, thus enhancing the performance. Therefore, we expect to obtain efficient Sb 2 S 3 solar cells based on the nanostructured CdS buffer layer.…”

Influence of N‐Butyldithiocarbamic Acid Content on the Properties of Sb2S3 Sensitized TiO2 Nanorod Arrays and Photovoltaic Performance of the Corresponding Solar Cells

“…The IPCE spectrum of the Sb 2 S 3 sensitized TiO 2 nanorod array solar cells prepared by Sb-BDCA complex solution with the BDCA to Sb 3 + ratios of 6, 8 and 10 had been shown in the Figure 3 (b).The EQE of BDCA-6 and BDCA-8 were higher than BDCA-10 obviously in the wavelength range of 500 nm-750 nm, and the integrated J sc were 16.81 mA cm À 2 , 17.34 mA cm À 2 and 15.31 mA cm À 2 which were in accordance with the J sc in Figure 3 (a).These results should be related to the higher load quantity and the better infiltration of Sb 2 S 3 in the TiO 2 nanorod arrays. Because the Sb 2 S 3 was not full coverage on the TiO 2 nan-orod arrays, when the Sb 2 S 3 sensitized TiO 2 nanorod arrays with BDCA-8 were suface modificated by lauric acid, [11] the PCE of corresponding solar cells improved to 5.77 %. (The detail photovoltaic performance parameters had been listed in the Table S1)…”

“…[10] Shi et al also used spin-pyrolysis SbÀ Tu complex solution in DMF to deposit Sb 2 S 3 on 500 nm length TiO 2 nanorod arrays, and the corresponding solar cell with the architecture of FTO/TiO 2 compact layer/TiO 2 nanorod array/Sb 2 S 3 /Au achieved the PCE of 5.37 % with the surface modification of C 11 H 23 COOH. [11] Chen et al used Sb 2 O 3 , 3-mercaptopropionic acid and aqueous ammonia to form the Sb-Mercaptopropionic acid complex solution and the Sb 2 S 3 thin films with controlled microstructure were prepared by spinpyrolysis. The corresponding solar cells obtained the PCE of 5.57 %.…”

“…Shi et al. also used spin‐pyrolysis Sb−Tu complex solution in DMF to deposit Sb 2 S 3 on 500 nm length TiO 2 nanorod arrays, and the corresponding solar cell with the architecture of FTO/TiO 2 compact layer/TiO 2 nanorod array/Sb 2 S 3 /Au achieved the PCE of 5.37 % with the surface modification of C 11 H 23 COOH [11] . Chen et al.…”

Optimization of the Sb2S3 Shell Thickness in ZnO Nanowire-Based Extremely Thin Absorber Solar Cells

“…The combination of a Sb 2 S 3 shell with TiO 2 nanostructures in the form of nanofibers [47], nanotubes [48], or NWs [49][50][51][52] has also been explored, resulting in the fabrication of semiconductor-sensitized solar cells with a PCE in the typical range of 2-5%. Recently, the use of surface modifiers with different functional groups and carbon numbers has led to the fabrication of Sb 2 S 3 -sensitized solar cells, reaching a PCE of 5.37%, which showed the capability of getting a high photovoltaic performance, using oxide nanorods [52]. Alternatively, there has been an increasing interest in coupling an Sb 2 S 3 shell with ZnO NWs [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60].…”