Al2O3-coated SnO2/TiO2 composite electrode for the dye-sensitized solar cell

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 50; no. 13; pp. 2583 - 2589
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhaoyue, Pan, Kai, Liu, Min, Wang, Meijia, Lü, Qiang, Li, Jinghong, Bai, Yubai, Li, Tiejin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 30.04.2005
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Scanning electron microscopy; Inorganic pigment; Voltage current curve; Al2O3-coated SnO2/TiO2 composite electrode; X ray; X ray diffraction; Surface structure; Titanium Oxides; Electrodes; Aluminium Oxides; Tin oxide; Morphology; Photoelectron spectrometry; Alumina; Photoelectric current; Photoelectrode
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2004.11.003

A novel Al2O3-coated SnO2/TiO2 composite electrode has been applied to the dye-sensitized solar cell. In such an electrode, two kinds of energy barriers (SnO2/TiO2 and TiO2/Al2O3) were designed to suppress the recombination processes of the photo-generated electrons and holes. After the SnO2 was modified by colloid TiO2, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the SnO2/TiO2 composite cell increased to 2.08% by a factor of 2.8 comparing with that of the SnO2 cell. The Al2O3 layer on the SnO2/TiO2 composite electrode further suppressed the generation of the dark current, resulting in 37% improvement in device performance comparing with the SnO2/TiO2 cell.