Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.551, 172-180, 2011
The Effect of TiOx Blocking Layer on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Titanium Dioxide Solar Cells
Ti oxide blocking layer on the FTO glass was formed by dipping the glass in TiCl4 solution at 70 degrees C with the variation of TiCl4 concentrations, dipping times, alcohol solvents, and dipping sequences. Cyclic voltagram of the TiCl4-pretreated FTO glass indicated that the cathodic peak was very sensitive to the formation of non-electroactive TiOx layer on the FTO glass. The TiOx blocking layer was effectively formed on the FTO glass through a double-dipping sequence, i.e., first dipping the FTO glass in aqueous solution (containing 50mMTiCl(4)) and subsequently dipping the heat-treated FTO glass in alcohol mixture of 50 vol% (containing 50 mM TiCl4). TiCl4-pretreatment enhanced the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by ca. 3.8% and additional TiCl4 post-treatment enhanced the PCE of DSSCs by ca. 13.2% as compared to non-treated DSSC, respectively.