Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.41, No.4, 445-452, 2011
Solid-state dye-sensitized ZnO solar cells prepared by low-temperature methods
Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on highly porous ZnO films prepared by template-assisted electrodeposition as electron collector, the indoline dye D149 as sensitizer and CuSCN as hole collector have been prepared using three different methods, namely impregnation with saturated CuSCN solution, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and electrodeposition, for filling the pores in the ZnO with CuSCN. The highest pore filling and the highest conversion efficiency of 0.46% were achieved with the impregnation method, while SILAR led to a very low pore filling, causing very low photocurrents, and electrodeposition led to short-circuiting between the CuSCN and the conducting substrate of the ZnO sample despite the presence of a compact ZnO bottom layer between the porous ZnO layer and the conducting layer, causing very low open-circuit voltages.