Preparation and performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO-modified TiO2 electrodes

• Published in: International journal of minerals, metallurgy and materials Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 92 - 97
• Main Authors: Li, Sheng-jun, Lin, Yuan, Tan, Wei-wei, Zhang, Jing-bo, Zhou, Xiao-wen, Chen, Jin-mao, Chen, Zeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing University of Science and Technology Beijing 01.02.2010; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloiding; Composites; Corrosion and Coatings; Dark current; Differential scanning calorimetry; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrodes; Glass; Impedance; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Natural Materials; Open circuit voltage; Photoelectric effect; Photovoltaic cells; Sol-gel processes; Solar cells; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; TiO2电极; Titanium dioxide; Tribology; Zinc oxide; 二氧化钛胶体; 修饰电极; 太阳能; 染料敏化; 氧化锌; 电池性能; electrode; TiO; dye-sensitized solar cells; modification; photoelectrochemical properties
• ISSN: 1674-4799; 1869-103X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12613-010-0116-z

The ZnO-modified TiO2 electrode was prepared by adding Zn（CH3COO）2·2H2O to the TiO2 colloid during the sol-gel production process, and was used in dye-sensitized solar cells （DSCs）. The open circuit voltage （Voc） and fill factor （if） of the cells were improved sig- nificantly. The performances of the ZnO-modified TiO2 electrode such as dark current, transient photocurrent, impedance, absorption spectra, and fiat band potential （Vfb） were investigated. It is found that the interface charge recombination impedance increases and Vfb shifts about 200 mV toward the cathodic potential. The effect mechanism of ZnO modification on the performance of DSCs may be that ZnO occupies the surface states of the TiO2 film.