Effect of the Nanostructures Addition on TiO₂ Photoanode and DSSC Properties

Abstract:

Photoelectrodes are key components of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and as such improving their properties, may lead to an overall improvement of the entire cell.This paper aims to fabricate and compare the properties of various photoanodes (resulting in DSSCs) to determine how the overall efficiency of the cell is affected by various additives mixed into the TiO₂ paste deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) covered glass, thus changing the photoanode composition. The TiO₂ paste has been previously mixed with various materials such as ZnO, SiO₂, Pd, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Basing on the prepared photoanodes, DSSCs have been prepared and analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, were tested on a SS I-V CT-02 laboratory stand equipped with a Photo Emission Tech SS150AAA solar radiation simulator and Keithley 2401 low-voltage multimeter. The test results allowed for a determination of their properties and comparison. The highest efficiency has been obtained for the DSSCs based on photoanodes with TiO2 (1.58%) and TiO₂/ZnO (1.52%).

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 326)
• Pages: 89-99
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.326.89
• Online since: November 2021
• Authors: Bartlomiej Hrapkowicz*, Kinga Jędrzejczak, Pawel Jarka, Tomasz Tański
• Keywords: DSSC, Photoanodes, TiO₂

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