Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency by Spherical Voids in Nanocrystalline ZnO Electrodes

Hoang Nhat Hieu; Van-Duong Dao; Nguyen Minh Vuong; Dojin Kim; Ho-Suk Choi

Korean Journal of Materials Research, Vol.24, No.9, 458-464, September, 2014

DOI10.3740/MRSK.2014.24.9.458 Export Citation

Enhancement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency by Spherical Voids in Nanocrystalline ZnO Electrodes

Hoang Nhat Hieu, Van-Duong Dao¹, Nguyen Minh Vuong, Dojin Kim^†, and Ho-Suk Choi¹

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea
¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-764, Korea

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Light scattering enhancement is widely used to enhance the optical absorption efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. In this work, we systematically analyzed the effects of spherical voids distributed as light-scattering centers in photoanode films made of an assembly of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Spherical voids in electrode films were formed using a sacrificial template of polystyrene (PS) spheres. The diameter and volume concentration of these spheres was varied to optimize the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The effects of film thickness on this efficiency was also examined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to study electron transport in the electrodes. The highest power conversion efficiency of 4.07 % was observed with 12 μm film thickness. This relatively low optimum thickness of the electrode film is due to the enhanced light absorption caused by the light scattering centers of voids distributed in the film.

Keywords:dye-sensitized solar cell;zinc oxide;polystyrene;scattering spherical voids

[References]

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Dao VD, Kim SH, Choi HS, Kim JH, Park HO, Lee JK, J. Phys. Chem. C, 115, 25529 (2011)
Dao VD, Tarn CQ, Ko SH, Choi HS, J. Mater. Chem. A, 1, 4436 (2013)
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Ferber J, Luther J, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 54(1), 265 (1998)
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Zhang QF, Chou TP, Russo B, Jenekhe SA, Cao G, Adv. Funct. Mater., 18(11), 1654 (2008)
Kevin M, Fou YH, Wong ASW, Ho GW, Nanotechnology, 21, 315602 (2010)
Lee CH, Choi HW, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 565, 124 (2012)
Hore S, Nitz p, Vetter C, Prahl C, Niggemann M, Kern R, Chem. Comm., 2011, 2011 (2005)
Sheng X, Zhai J, Jiang L, Zhu D, Appl. Phys. A, 96, 473 (2009)
Hieu HN, Vuong NM, Jung H, Jang DM, Kim D, Kim H, Hong SK, J. Mater. Chem., 22, 1127 (2012)
Dao VD, Choi HS, Jung KD, Mater. Lett., 92, 11 (2013)
Zhang Q, Chou TP, Russo B, Jenekhe SA, Cao G, Ang. Chem. Int. Edit., 47, 2042 (2008)
Chang S, Li Q, Xiao X, Wong KY, Chen T, Energy Environ. Sci., 5, 9444 (2012)
Hieu HN, Dung NQ, Kim J, Kim D, Nanoscale, 5, 5530 (2013)
Hieu HN, Vuong NM, Kim D, J. Electrochem. Soc., 160(11), H852 (2013)

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[1] O'Regan B, Gratzel M, Nature, 353, 737 (1991)

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[3] Dao VD, Kim SH, Choi HS, Kim JH, Park HO, Lee JK, J. Phys. Chem. C, 115, 25529 (2011)

[4] Dao VD, Tarn CQ, Ko SH, Choi HS, J. Mater. Chem. A, 1, 4436 (2013)

[5] Nazeeruddin MK, De Angelis F, Fantacci S, Selloni A, Viscardi G, Liska P, Ito S, Takeru B, Gratzel MG, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 127(48), 16835 (2005)

[6] Quintana M, Edvinsson T, Hagfeld A, Boschloo G, J. Phys. Chem. C, 111, 1035 (2006)

[7] Zhang QF, Dandeneau CS, Zhou XY, Cao GZ, Adv. Mater., 21(41), 4087 (2009)

[8] Chang WC, Lee CH, Yu WC, Lin CM, Nanoscale Res. Lett., 7, 1 (2012)

[9] Ferber J, Luther J, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 54(1), 265 (1998)

[10] Hamadanian M, Sayahi H, Zolfagharici AR, J. Nanostructures, 1, 139 (2012)

[11] Zhang QF, Chou TP, Russo B, Jenekhe SA, Cao G, Adv. Funct. Mater., 18(11), 1654 (2008)

[12] Kevin M, Fou YH, Wong ASW, Ho GW, Nanotechnology, 21, 315602 (2010)

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