• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.632-637
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• 1993

The optical properties and electrochromism of amorphous $WO_3$ thin films were studied. $WO_3$ thin films with thickness of 3000$\AA$~6000$\AA$ were deposited by vacuum evaporat.ion. All these films were transparent and found to be amorphous in structure by X-ray diffraction analysis and the visible wave length refractive indices were found to be between 1.9 and 2.1 and the optical energey gap to be 3.25 eV. Electrochromic devices were made consisting of IT0 transparent electrode, $WO_3$ thin films, $LiCIO_4$- propylene carbonate and Pt counter electrode. In terms of their operation, the amorphous $WO_3$ films were colored blue by a double injection of electrons from the transparent electrode and lithium ions from the $LiCIO_4$-propylene carbonate organic electrolyte and made colorless by electrochemical oxidation reaction. The electrochromic properties of $WO_3$ thin films including coloration and bleaching, optical density and response time were all found to be strongly dependent on the film deposition condition, electrolyte concentration, sheet resistance of the transparent electrode and applied voltage.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.483-487
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• 2010

To fabricate $TiO_2$ nanoparticle-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low-temperature, DSSCs were fabricated using hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticles composites for the electron transport layer around a low-temperature ($200^{\circ}C$). ZnO nanoparticle with 20 nm and 60 nm diameter were used and Pt was deposited as a counter electrode on ITO/glass using an RF magnetron sputtering. We investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration in hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticle solution on the photoconversion performance of the low temperature fabricated ($200^{\circ}C$) DSSCs. Using cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20 bipyridy1-4,40 dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) bis-tetrabutylammonium (N719) dye as a sensitizer, the corresponding device performance and photo-physical characteristics are investigated through conventional physical characterization techniques. The effect of thickness of the ZnO photoelectrode and the morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles with the variations of hydropolymer to ZnO ratio on the photoconversion performance are also investigated. The morphology of the ZnO layer after sintering was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs showed an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of about 7% higher than that of 20 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs. The maximum parameters of the short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$), the open circuit potential ($V_{oc}$), fill factor (ff), and efficiency ($\eta$) in the 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle-based DSSC devices were 4.93 mA/$cm^2$, 0.56V, 0.40, and 1.12%, respectively.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.89-92
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• 2004

For improving solar efficiencies, down conversion of high-energy photons to visible lights is discussed. The losses due to thermalization of charge carriers generated by the absorption of high-energy photons, can largely be reduced in a solar cell if more than one electron-hole pair can be generated per incident photon. The solar cell was constructed of dye-sensitized anatase-based TiO$_2$, approximately 30nm particle size, 6$\mu\textrm{m}$thickness, and 6${\times}$6$\textrm{mm}^2$ active area, Pt counter electrode and I$_3$$\^$-/I$_2$$\^$-/ electrolyte. After correction for losses due to light reflection and absorption by the conducting glass, the conversion of photons to electric current is practically quantitative in the plateau region of the curves. The incident photon to current conversion efficiency(IPCE) of N3 used as a dye in this work is about 80% at around 590nm and 610nm which is the emission spectrum of Eu doped LGF. The Eu doped LGF powder was prepared by conventional ceramic process, and used as a down converter for DSC after spin coated on the slide glass and fired.