Nanopatterning of Mesoporous Inorganic Oxide Films for Efficient Light Harvesting of Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Nanopatterning provides facile process to well-arrayed mesoporous inorganic oxide films at low cost by using readily available pastes and elastomeric nanostamps. The fabricated nanopattern boosted the light-harvesting efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by a light-trapping technique. The iodine-free solid-state DSSCs showed a 40 % increase in the current density and high efficiency (7.03 %).

Multi-layering of a nanopatterned TiO2 layer for highly efficient solid-state solar cells

“…Next, a solution containing 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) was Multi-layering of a Nanopatterned TiO 2 Layer J Na et al directly dropped onto the dye-adsorbed TiO 2 photoanode, followed by a solid-state polymerization 11,22,23 at 60°C to produce the conductive polymer, PEDOT as a HTM, to prepare an I 2 -free ssDSSC.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] In this context, patterned photoanodes in solar cells have been studied as a line structure, 11 a 3D micro-pyramid, 12 an embedded micro-line, 13 and moth-eye structures 14 in an effort to improve light harvesting efficiency in photovoltaic devices. 2,3,15 In addition, the photonic crystal 7,16,17 and plasmonic nanostructures 18,19 have been explored intensively.…”

“…Among the various solar cells, iodine-free solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSCs) based on a conductive polymer as hole transporting materials have been attracting much interest recently owing to their low toxicity, light overall weight, long-term durability and processibility. 11,22,23 However, the photoconversion efficiency of ssDSSCs is low due to the wasted light that is transmitted through the photoanode. In our previous work, we introduced a nanopatterned TiO 2 photoanode, showing 40% and 33% enhancements of the short-circuit current (J sc ) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), respectively, compared with a flat TiO 2 photoanode in ssDSSCs.…”

“…In our previous work, we introduced a nanopatterned TiO 2 photoanode, showing 40% and 33% enhancements of the short-circuit current (J sc ) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), respectively, compared with a flat TiO 2 photoanode in ssDSSCs. 11 However, the light harvesting capabilities of ssDSSCs, which have only one nanopatterned layer, are limited because a significant amount of light could still be transmitted through the single nanopatterned layer.…”

Multidirectional Light‐Harvesting Enhancement in Dye Solar Cells by Surface Patterning

“…Initially reported results prove the potential of this approach to largely increase the light harvesting effi ciency without adding any extra layer to the cell. [17][18][19][20] Besides, these results indicate that it should be possible to improve effi ciency while preserving the multidirectional operation of the cell (i.e., under front and rear illumination conditions), as the nanostructured surface of a transparent material behave as diffracting interface and, hence, as potential absorption enhancer at any angle of incidence of light on its surface.In this work, we demonstrate that surface relief patterns can be used as multidirectional enhancers of the effi ciency of DSC. We used a combination of soft-lithography and micro-stamping One dimensional gratings patterned on the surface of nanocrystalline titania electrodes are used as a light harvesting strategy to improve the overall performance of dye solar cells under both frontal and rear illumination conditions.…”