• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.50-54
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• 2013

In this work, the effects of blocking layer and optimally fabricated electrolyte were investigated with respect to impedance and conversion efficiency of the cells.A layer of $TiO_2$ less than ~200nm in thickness, as a blocking layer, was deposited by rf sputtering onto the F:$SnO_2$ (FTO) glass to be isolated from the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Also, optimum condition of electrolytes preparation for DSCs was investigated. 3-methoxyppropionitrie and redox pairs with LiI and $I_2$ were used as solvents for fabrication of electrolyte. The electrochemical impedances of DSCs using this photo-anode were $R_1$: 13.8, $R_2$: 15.1, $R_3$: 11.9 and $R_h$: $8.3{\Omega}$, respectively. The $R_2$ impedance related by electron transportation from porous $TiO_2$ to FTO showed lower than that of normal DSCs. The photo-conversion efficiency of prepared DSCs was 6.4% and approximately 1.3% higher than general one.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.501-505
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• 2009

$TiO_2$ nano-particle paste was prepared by ethyl cellulose, $\alpha$-terpineol and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dioxcyl phthalate) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Dispersion and absorbance of $TiO_2$ photoanode films was controlled by adding different amount of ethyl cellulose and $\alpha$-terpineol. The morphology of prepared $TiO_2$ films was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the optical properties of $TiO_2$ films were measured by UV/vis spectra. Photovoltaic-current density was observed to determine the electrochemical response of DSSCs. Energy conversion efficiency was obtained about 7.1% at ethyl cellulose and $\alpha$-terpineol at optimal mixed ratio (as ethyl cellulose: 0.1 g; $\alpha$-terpineol: 1.5 ml) under illumination with AM 1.5($100\;Wcm^{-2}$) simulated sunlight.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 2013

We report on the time dependent degradation of cell in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The photovoltaic performance of DSSC over a period of time was investigated in liquid electrolyte based on triiodide/iodide during six days. It was found that the short circuit current density ($j_{sc}$) of the cell dropped from 9.9 to $7mA/cm^2$ while efficiency (${\eta}$) of the cell decreased from 4.4 to 3.3%. The parameters corresponding to fundamental electronic and ionic processes in a working DSSC are determined from the electrochemical impedance spectrascopy (EIS) at open-circuit potential ($V_{oc}$). EIS study of the DSSC in the this work showed that the electron life time ${\tau}_r$ and chemical capacitance $C_{\mu}$ decreased significantly after six days. It was correlated the $j_{sc}$ and efficiency decreased after six days.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.3052-3058
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• 2014

In this article, we have designed and synthesized a novel donor-${\pi}$-acceptor (D-${\pi}$-A) type porphyrin-based sensitizer (denoted UI-5), in which a carboxyl anchoring group and a 9,9-dimethyl fluorene were introduced at the meso-positions of porphyrin ring via phenylethynyl and ethynyl bridging units, respectively. Long alkoxy chains in ortho-positions of the phenyls were supposed to reduce the degree of dye aggregation, which tends to affect electron injection yield in a photovoltaic cell. The cyclic voltammetry was employed to determine the band gap of UI-5 to be 1.41 eV based on the HOMO and LUMO energy levels, which were estimated by the onset oxidation and reduction potentials. The incident monochromatic photon-to-current conversion efficiency of the UI-5 DSSC assembled with double-layer (20 nm-sized $TiO_2$/400 nm-sized $TiO_2$) film electrodes appeared lower upon overall ranges of the excitation wavelengths, but exhibited a higher value over the NIR ranges (${\lambda}$ = 650-700 nm) compared to the common reference sensitizer N719. The UI-5-sensitized cell yielded a relatively poor device performance with an overall conversion efficiency of 0.74% with a short circuit photocurrent density of $3.05mA/cm^2$, an open circuit voltage of 0.54 mV and a fill factor of 0.44 under the standard global air mass (AM 1.5) solar conditions. However, our report about the synthesis and the photovoltaic characteristics of a porphyrin-based sensitizer in a D-${\pi}$-A structure demonstrated a significant complex relationship between the sensitizer structure and the cell performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.295-295
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• 2010

Nanoparticles of the compound semiconductor, Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS), were synthesized in solution under ambient pressure below $100^{\circ}C$ and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical absorption spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. These materials have chalcopyrite crystal structures and the particle sizes less than 100 nm. Synthetic conditions were studied for the crystallized CIGS nanoparticles formation to prevent from side products of Cu2Se, Cu2-xSe, and CuSe etc. The single phase CIGS nanoparticles were applied to coating of thin films photovoltaic cells. The electro deposition of CIGS thin films is also a good non-vacuum technology and under investigation. In aqueous solutions, the different chemical compositions of CIGS thin films were obtained, depending on pH, concentration of starting materials and deposition potentials. The surface morphology of the prepared CIGS thin films depends on the complexing ligands to the solutions during the electrochemical deposition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.360-361
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• 2008

A new kind of SBM co-polymer binder as styrene, n-butyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid (SBM) monodisperse co-polymer binder materials basted on $TiO_2$ pastes was synthesized and this $TiO_2$ pastes were applied of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The SBM co-polymer binder was prepared by soap-free emulsion copolymerization using a PEG-EEM macromonomer. The photoanodes were characterized by morphology investigated from field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The photoelectrochemical properties of the thin films and the performance of DSSCs were measured by photovoltaic-current density. DSSC based on the emulsion co-polymer binder was obtained conversion efficiency of 7.1% under irradiation of AM 1.5($100mWcm^{-2}$).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1311-1316
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• 2007

To develop photo-sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) used in harvesting sunlight and transferring solar energy into electricity, we synthesize novel Ru(II) polypyridyl dyes and describe their characterization. We also investigate the photo-electrochemical properties of DSCs using these sensitizers. New dyes contain chromophore unit of dafo (4,5-diazafluoren-9-one) or phen-dione (1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) instead of the nonchromophoric donor unit of thiocyanato ligand in cis-[RuII(dcbpy)2(NCS)2] (dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy- 2,2'-bipyridine) coded as N3 dye. For example, the photovoltaic data of DSCs using [RuII(dcbpy)2(dafo)](CN)2 as a sensitizer show 6.85 mA/cm2, 0.70 V, 0.58 and 2.82% in short-circuit current (Jsc ), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (Eff), which can be compared with those of 7.90 mA/ cm2, 0.70 V, 0.53 and 3.03% for N3 dye. With the same chelating ligand directly bonded to the Ru metal in the complex, the CN ligand increases the Jsc value by double, compared to the SCN ligand. The extra binding ability in these new dyes makes them more resistant against ligand loss and photo-induced isomerization within octahedral geometry.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2016

A novel heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex bearing a 4-picolinic acid unit as anchoring ligands (trans-dithiocyanato bis(4-picolinic acid)ruthenium(II) (trans-H1)) was synthesized and its chemical structure was identified by $^1H$-NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopy. The optical, thermal, electrochemical and dye adsorption properties of trans-H1 dye were investigated and compared with those of the gold standard ruthenium complex, Ru(4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine)$_2cis(NCS)_2$ (N3). DSSCs based on trans-H1 dyes were examined under the illumination of AM 1.5 G, $100mWcm^{-2}$ and exhibited typical photovoltaic properties with an open-circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$) of 0.46 V, a short-circuit current ($J_{SC}$) of $4.10mA{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, a fill factor (FF) of 60.4%, and a conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.14%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.75.2-75.2
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• 2013

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), utilizing self-limiting surface reactions, could offer promising perspectives for future efficient energy conversion devices. The capabilities of ALD for surface/interface modification and construction of novel architectures with sub-nanometer precision and exceptional conformality over high aspect ratio make it more valuable than any other deposition methods in nanoscale science and technology. In the context, a variety of researches on fabrication of active materials for energy conversion applications by ALD are emerging. Among those materials, one-dimensional nanotubular titanium dioxide, providing not only high specific surface area but also efficient carrier transport pathway, is a class of the most intensively explored materials for energy conversion systems, such as photovoltaic cells and photo/electrochemical devices. The monodisperse, stoichiometric, anatase, TiO2 nanotubes with smooth surface morphology and controlled wall thickness were fabricated via low-temperature template-directed ALD followed by subsequent annealing. The ALD-grown, anatase, TiO2 nanotubes in alumina template show unusual crystal growth behavior which allows to form remarkably large grains along axial direction over certain wall thickness. We also fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) introducing our anatase TiO2 nanotubes as photoanodes, and studied the effect of blocking layer, TiO2 thin films formed by ALD, on overall device efficiency. The photon convertsion efficiency ~7% were measured for our TiO2 nanotubebased DSCs with blocking layers, which is ~1% higher than ones without blocking layer. We also performed open circuit voltage decay measurement to estimate recombination rate in our cells, which is 3 times longer than conventional nanoparticulate photoanodes. The high efficiency of our ALD-grown, anatase, TiO2 nanotube-based DSCs may be attributed to both enhanced charge transport property of our TiO2 nanotubes photoanode and the suppression of recombination at the interface between transparent conducting electrode and iodine electrolytes by blocking layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

Octahedral $Co_3O_4$/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites are fabricated using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. Their morphological characteristics, chemical bonding states, and electrochemical properties are used to demonstrate the improved photovoltaic properties of the samples. Octahedral $Co_3O_4$ grown on CNFs is based on metallic Co nanoparticles acting as seeds in the CNFs, which seeds are directly related to the high performance of DSSCs. The octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites exhibit high photocurrent density ($12.73mA/m^2$), superb fill factor (62.1 %), and excellent power conversion efficiency (5.61 %) compared to those characteristics of commercial $Co_3O_4$, conventional CNFs, and metallic Co-seed/CNFs. These results can be described as stemmnig from the synergistic effect of the porous and graphitized matrix formed by catalytic graphitization using the metal cobalt catalyst on CNFs, which leads to an increase in the catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ions. Therefore, octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites can be used as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells.