Charge transporting enhancement of NiO photocathodes for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 66; pp. 210 - 215
• Main Authors: Hsu, Chih-Yu, Chen, Wei-Ting, Chen, Yung-Chung, Wei, Hung-Yu, Yen, Yung-Sheng, Huang, Kuan-Chieh, Ho, Kuo-Chuan, Chu, Chih-Wei, Lin, Jiann T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Charge; Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC); Dyes; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Nickel oxide; Organic sensitizer; P-type semiconductor; Photocathodes; Photoelectric effect; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Semiconductors; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Transporting; Organic sensitizer; P-type semiconductor; Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC); Nickel oxide; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Atomic force microscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Nickel Oxides; Photocathode; X ray; X ray diffraction; Optically transparent electrode; Surface structure; Sol gel process; p type semiconductor; Morphology; Preparation; Photoelectron spectrometry; Photovoltaic conversion; Photoelectrode
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2012.01.081

A p-type NiO film was prepared by doctor-blading of Ni(OH)2 paste onto FTO glass, followed by sintering at 450°C for 30min. The influence of nucleation condition of Ni(OH)2 on the morphology of NiO films and consequently charge transporting behavior is investigated. A smooth and compact NiO film is obtained with smaller Ni(OH)2 sol–gel particle size, which is confirmed by the surface topography examination. The hole transporting ability of NiO semiconductor is enhanced with such a compact film because of better interconnection between particles, as evidenced from electrochemical impedance analysis. The NiO film obtained is employed as the photocathode in p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using arylamine-based dyes. The short-circuit photocurrent is two times improved to ca. 2.0mAcm−2 compared to rough films.