Multidimensional ZnO Architecture for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with High‐Efficiency up to 7.35%

Abstract

A multidimensional ZnO photoanode consisting of a 2D‐nanosheet tuned 3D‐aggregate film and a 0D‐nanocrystallite compact layer is developed and found to simultaneously possess large surface area, effective electron transport, and strong light‐scattering capability. This leads to a remarkable efficiency of 7.35%, which is among the world records for ZnO dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs).

Tin Oxide Light‐Scattering Layer for Titania Photoanodes in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

“…A variety of TiO 2 structures such as hollow spheres, mesoporous beads, hierarchical microspheres, mesoporous microspheres, and others have been employed in the backscattering layer. In addition to these TiO 2 structures, researchers have explored other alternative backscattering layers (e.g., ZnO, CeO 2 , SnO 2 , and Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce phosphors) and used them in DSSC photoanodes because of their unique light‐backscattering capabilities and high photostabilities. However, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancements achieved by using these light‐backscattering layers are still unsatisfactory.…”

Improved charge generation and collection in dye-sensitized solar cells with modified photoanode surface

“…In addition to TiO 2 , other wide bandgap semiconductors, such as ZnO, SnO 2 and Zn 2 SnO 4 , have attracted considerable attention for the DSCs [5][6][7]. Among these materials, ZnO is considered as one of the best photoanode materials for DSCs, which possesses a similar band-structure to that of TiO 2 and high electron mobility (up to $ 1000 cm/V/s for a single nanowire) [8].…”

Two dimensional graphitic-phase C3N4 as multifunctional protecting layer for enhanced short-circuit photocurrent in ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells

“…Due to the similar electron band structure, excellent bulk electron mobility and the richest family of nanostructures, ZnO is also regarded as promising candidate for the photoanode in DSSC [4][5][6]. Although many researchers have been devoted to prepare various ZnO structures for DSSC application, the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ZnO-based devices merely reaches to $7.5%, which is far less than the TiO 2 based DSSCs with PCE of $13% [7][8][9][10]. In addition, the ZnO nanoparticles are vulnerable in the ruthenium based dyes, because the acid function groups in the dye molecules can detach Zn 2+ from the host lattice to form Zn 2+ -dye agglomerations.…”