• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.6 no.5
• /
• pp.238-242
• /
• 2005

The Pt counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) plays a role in helping redox reaction of iodine ions in electrolyte, also, transferring electrons into electrolyte. In this case, it is expected that characteristics of Pt electrodes strongly depend on fabrication process and its surface condition. In this study, Pt electrodes were prepared by a electro-deposition and a RF magnetron sputtering. Electrochemical behavior of Pt electrodes was compared using cyclic-voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Surface morphology of Pt electrodes was investigated by FE-SEM and AFM. I-V characteristics of DSSC were measured and discussed in association with the surface properties of counter electrode. As a result, electrochemical properties of electro-deposited Pt electrode were superior to that of sputtered Pt electrode. This is likely that enlarged area of surface in electro-deposited Pt electrode in comparison with the case of sputtered Pt electrode playa role in enhancing such electrochemical properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2011.08a
• /
• pp.370-370
• /
• 2011

ZnO 나노 라드 위에 Quantum dot을 형성하고 최종적으로 TiO2를 Atomic Layer Deposition방법으로 증착하여, 그 passivation 효과가 solar cell의 효율에 미친 영향에 대한 실험을 진행하였다. 암모니아 솔루션을 이용한 Hydrothermal 방법으로 수직한 1차원 형태의 ZnO 나노라드를 TCO 기판 위에 성장시킨다. 여기에 잘 알려진 SILAR와 CBD 방법으로 CdS, CdSe 양자점을 증착한다. 그리고 amorphous TiO2로 표면을 덮는 과정을 거치는데, TiO2가 좁은 간격으로 형성된 ZnO라드 구조 위에서 균일하고 정밀하게 증착되도록 하기 위해 Atomic Layer Deposition을 이용하였다. 사용된 precursor는 Titanium isopropoxide와 H2O이며, 실험상에서 0~5 nm 두께의 TiO2 박막을 형성해 보았다. 다양한 분석 방법을 통해 TiO2/QDs/ZnO의 shell-shell-core 구조를 조사했다. (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)). 이를 solar cell에 적용하고 I-V curve를 통해 그 효율을 확인하였으며, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)를 통해서 재결합 측면에서 나타나는 변화 양상을 확인하였다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1501-1504
• /
• 2003

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCN) were integrated in $TiO_2$ film and the beneficial influence on the dyesensitized solar cells in terms of improved photocurrent was studied in the light of static J-V characteristics obtained both under illumination and in the dark, photocurrent transients, IPCE spectra and impedance spectra. Compared with a solar cell without SWCN, it is established that the photocurrent density of the modified cell increases at all applied potentials. The enhanced photocurrent density is correlated with the augmented concentration of electrons in the conduction band of $TiO_2$ and with increased electrical conductivity. Explanations are additionally corroborated with the help of SEM, Raman spectra and dye-desorption measurements.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2009

A novel 8 V DC power source with an external series-parallel connection of 50 Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) has been proposed. One DSC has the optimized length to width ratio of $5.2{\times}2.6\;cm$ and an active area $8\;cm^2$ ($4.62{\times}1.73\;cm$) which attained a conversion efficiency of 4.02%. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis, it was found that the resistance elements related to the Pt electrode and electrolyte interface behave like that of diode and the series resistance corresponds to the sum of the other resistance elements. Surface morphology and sheet resistance of Pt counter electrode did not degrade the performance of the cell. This novel 8V-0.33A DC power source shows stable performance with an energy conversion efficiency of 4.24% under 1 sun illumination (AM 1.5, Pin of $100\;mW/cm^2$).

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.137.2-137.2
• /
• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.360.1-360.1
• /
• 2014

DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell)의 TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide)와 전해질 사이의 전자 재결합(Back reaction)은 DSSC의 효율을 떨어뜨리는 요소 중 하나이다. 이와 같은 문제점을 해결하기 위하여 Blocking layer로서 $TiO_2$ 가 많이 사용되어지고 있다. 본 실험에서는 $HfO_2$ 를 Blocking layer로 사용하여 전자 재결합으로 인한 효율 저하를 막기 위한 연구를 진행하였다. 기존 $TiO_2$ 대비 $HfO_2$는 큰 에너지 밴드갭을 가지고 있어, TCO와 전해질 사이에 전자 재결합을 줄여주는 역할을 하기 때문에 DSSC의 효율 향상을 확인할 수 있다. 효율 측정은 1sun (100 mW/cm, AM1.5)조건에서 solar simulator를 이용하여 측정 했으며, 전자 재결합 감소는 Dark Current, EIS (Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy)의 측정을 통하여 확인하였다. $HfO_2$를 이용한 blocking layer를 염료 감응 태양전지에 적용하면, 전자 재결합에 의한 손실을 줄여 성능적 측면에서 개선 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.59 no.12
• /
• pp.2218-2224
• /
• 2010

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is a promising alternative solar cell to the conventional silicon solar cell due to several advantages. Development of large scale module is necessary to commercialize the DSC in the near future. A scribing technology of the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) is one of the important technologies on the fabrication of DSC module. A quality of the scribed line on the TCO has a decisive effect on the efficiency of DSC module. Among several scribing technologies, the fiber laser is a suitable for scribing the TCO more precisely and accurately because of their own characteristics. In this study, we try to improve the quality of the TCO scribed line by using the fiber laser. Consequently, the operating parameter of fiber laser is optimized to get the TCO scribed line with good quality. And the fiber laser scribing technology of the TCO is applied to the fabrication of the DSC with optimal operating parameter, operating current 3900mA. As a result, the current density and fill factor are improved and the total efficiency is increased because the internal resistances of DSC such as TCO sheet resistance and the resistance concerned to the electron movement in the $TiO_2$ are reduced. This is analyzed by the electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the equivalent circuit model of the DSC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.458-464
• /
• 2014

Light scattering enhancement is widely used to enhance the optical absorption efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. In this work, we systematically analyzed the effects of spherical voids distributed as light-scattering centers in photoanode films made of an assembly of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Spherical voids in electrode films were formed using a sacrificial template of polystyrene (PS) spheres. The diameter and volume concentration of these spheres was varied to optimize the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The effects of film thickness on this efficiency was also examined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to study electron transport in the electrodes. The highest power conversion efficiency of 4.07 % was observed with $12{\mu}m$ film thickness. This relatively low optimum thickness of the electrode film is due to the enhanced light absorption caused by the light scattering centers of voids distributed in the film.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.417-421
• /
• 2016

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the $TiO_2$ layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.60 no.1
• /
• pp.100-104
• /
• 2011

In this work, an optimum condition of electrolytes preparation for photovoltaic cells application was investigated experimentally in terms of impedance and conversion efficiency of the cells. 3-methoxyppropionitrie and redox pairs with LiI and $I_2$ were used as stable solvents for fabrication of electrolyte. Efficiency comparison of the prepared cells carried out for various additives and ionic liquids. From the results, there was an optimum concentration (about 0.3 M) of ionic liquids for efficient cell fabrication. For case of electrolyte using single DMAp additive, the maximum conversion efficiency of the cell was 6.4%($V_{oc}$: 0.78V, $J_{sc}$: 14.4 mA/$cm^2$, ff: 0.57). For case of electrolyte using both DMAp and CEMim additives, the maximum conversion efficiency of the cell was 7.2%($V_{oc}$: 0.79V, $J_{sc}$: 16 mA/$cm^2$, ff: 0.57). From the result of electrochemical impedance measurement, both Z1 and Z3 values of binary additives-based cell decreased compared to those of single additive-based. This is due to the decreased in internal and charge transfer resistivities of the cells.