Designed synthesis and stacking architecture of solid and mesoporous TiO(2) nanoparticles for enhancing the light-harvesting efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells.

We fabricated solid and mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with relatively large primary sizes of approximately 200 nm via inorganic templates for aero-sol-gel and subsequent aqueous-washing processes. The amount of dye molecules adsorbed by the internal pores in the mesoporous TiO2 NPs was increased by creating the nanopores within the solid TiO2 NPs. Simultaneously, the light-scattering effect of the mesoporous TiO2 NPs fabricated by this approach was secured by maintaining their spherical shape and relatively large average size. By precisely accumulating the fabricated solid or mesoporous 200 nm diameter TiO2 NPs on top of a conventional 25 nm diameter TiO2 NP-based underlayer, we could systematically examine the effect of the solid and mesoporous TiO2 NPs on the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Consequently, the stacking architecture of the mesoporous TiO2 NP-based overlayer, which functioned as both a light-scattering and dye-supporting medium, on top of a conventional solid TiO2 NP-based underlayer in a DSSC photoelectrode (i.e., double-layer structures) was found to be very promising for significantly improving the photovoltaic properties of conventional solid TiO2 NP single-layer-based DSSCs.

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticle-accumulated bilayer photoelectrode and condenser lens-assisted solar concentrator on light harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells.

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of 240 nm (T240), used as a light-scattering layer, were applied on 25-nm-sized TiO2 NPs (T25) that were used as a dye-absorbing layer in the photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, the incident light was concentrated via a condenser lens, and the effect of light concentration on the capacity of the light-scattering layer was systematically investigated. At the optimized focal length of the condenser lens, T25/T240 double layer (DL)-based DSSCs with the photoactive area of 0.36 cm2 were found to have the short circuit current (Isc) of 11.92 mA, the open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.74 V, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of approximately 4.11%, which is significantly improved when they were compared to the T25 single layer (SL)-based DSSCs without using a solar concentrator (the corresponding values were the Isc of 2.53 mA, the Voc of 0.69, and the PCE of 3.57%). Thus, the use of the optimized light harvesting structure in the photoelectrodes of DSSCs in conjunction with light concentration was found to significantly enhance the power output of DSSCs.

Synergistic effects of the aspect ratio of TiO2 nanowires and multi-walled carbon nanotube embedment for enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.

The existence of numerous interfacial boundaries among TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) accumulated in the photoelectrode layer of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) hinders the effective transport of photogenerated electrons to an electrode. Therefore, as a replacement for TiO2 NPs, one-dimensional TiO2 nanowires (NWs) can be suggested to provide pathways for fast electron transport by significantly reducing the number of interfacial boundaries. In order to provide direct evidence for the better performance of such longer TiO2 NWs than shorter TiO2 NWs, we examine the effect of the controlled aspect ratio of the TiO2 NWs randomly accumulated in the photoelectrode layer on the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. It is clearly found that longer TiO2 NWs significantly improve the electron transport by reducing the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interfacial contact resistance. Furthermore, the embedment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an effective charge transfer medium in longer TiO2 NWs is proposed in this study to promote more synergistic effects, which lead to significant improvements in the photovoltaic properties of DSSCs.