• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.42-47
• /
• 2016

Increasing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by the fabrication of new photoelectrodes (PEs) is an important challenge. This study examined the photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs composed of a $TiO_2$ PE with $WO_3$ nanoparticles (NPs). A number of PEs with the same thickness but different concentrations of $WO_3$ NPs in the $TiO_2PE$ were prepared. The morphology and structural properties of the prepared PEs were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The effects of the $WO_3$ NPs mixing concentration on the efficiency of DSSCs were investigated under simulated solar light irradiation.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.140-143
• /
• 2005

Carbon Nanotube(CNTs) counter electrode is a promising alternative to Platinum counter electrode for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, CNT counter electrodes having different visible light transmittance were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass surface by spray coating method. Microstructural images show that there are CNT-tangled region coated on FTO glass counter electrodes. Using such CNT counter electrodes and screen printed $TiO_2$ electrodes, DSSCs were assembled and its I-V characteristics have been studied and compared. Light energy conversion efficiency of DSSCs increased with decreasing in light transmittance of CNT counter electrode. Efficiency of DSSCs having CNT counter electrode is compatible to that of Pt counter electrode.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.230-231
• /
• 2006

In this paper, we examined effects by the binder in manufacturing titanium dioxide film for dye sensitized solar cell. Binder(PEG and PEO) was added the amount of 10-40wt% to commercial $TiO_2$ (P25), Respectively. All of $TiO_2$ film was showed porous structure owing to the addition of binders. But the difference of film's porosity could not be confirmed. The transmittance of $TiO_2$ film was decreased with the increase of binder's amount, generally. In case of 20wt%, however. The transmittance of $TiO_2$ films was showed the highest value.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.114-115
• /
• 2006

In the present study we investigated effects by changing binder contents m the carbon counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. Binder contents changed for 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt% before making carbon electrode. In the result of the measurement the specific resistance for 6 wt% was lowest among others And the surface of the carbon electrode which was measured by SEM was best m the 6 wt"%. The electrode properties be showing in an experiment were due to increment of surface roughness that appeared the carbon electrode, which decreased internal surface area.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.89-92
• /
• 2013

Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymers with different electric conductivities were synthesized directly on a FTO substrate via a chemical polymerization method and applied as a platinum (Pt)-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The catalytic properties of the PEDOT as a function of electrical conductivity were studied using cyclic voltammograms, J-V measurements and impedance spectroscopy. The PEDOT counter electrode with around 340 S/cm conductivity exhibited the best performance as a counter electrode for tri-iodide reduction. The ability to modulate catalytic activity of PEDOT with changes in conductivity shows one of promising routes for developing new counter electrode of Pt-free DSSCs.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.43-58
• /
• 2013

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a unique semiconductor material that exhibits numerous useful properties for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and other applications. Various thin-film growth techniques have been used to produce nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, nanotips, nanosheets, nanobelts and terapods of ZnO. These unique nanostructures unambiguously demonstrate that ZnO probably has the richest family of nanostructures among all materials, both in structures and in properties. The nanostructures could have novel applications in solar cells, optoelectronics, sensors, transducers and biomedical sciences. This article reviews the various nanostructures of ZnO grown by various techniques and their application in DSSCs. The application of ZnO nanowires, nanorods in DSSCs became outstanding, providing a direct pathway to the anode for photo-generated electrons thereby suppressing carrier recombination. This is a novel characteristic which increases the efficiency of ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.32 no.12
• /
• pp.4382-4386
• /
• 2011

$TiO_2$ hollow spheres were fabricated by using $SiO_2$ as an inorganic template. Spherical $SiO_2$ particles were coated by $TiO_2$ through the nucleation process, and then the core $SiO_2$ part was eliminated by using HF solution. Finally, $TiO_2$ hollow spheres were obtained. The size of the $TiO_2$ hollow spheres was about 300-400 nm and the thickness of the hollow wall was about 20-30 nm. The hollow has several holes whose diameters were within 100-200 nm. Dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated by using the $TiO_2$ hollow spheres were characterized. The solar conversion efficiency of the cell was 8.45% when $TiO_2$ hollow spheres were used as a scattering material, while it was 4.59% when $TiO_2$ hollow spheres were used as a normal electrode material.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.123-126
• /
• 2011

Titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) thin films were deposited by the sol-gel method with a surfactant-assisted mechanism. Its application for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was investigated. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to characterize the surface characteristics of thin films. Photovoltaic-current density measurements were performed to determine the photoelectrochemical properties of the thin films and the performance of DSSCs. Energy conversion efficiency of about 6.1% was achieved for cells with conductive glass under illumination with AM 1.5 (100 $mWcm^{-2}$) simulated sunlight. Investigation showed higher photo-energy conversion efficiency for mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanocrystalline films used in DSSCs relative to commercially available Degussa P25 films.

• Journal of Powder Materials
• /
• v.14 no.1 s.60
• /
• pp.44-49
• /
• 2007

In the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), carbon counter electrode has been tested for replacing the platinum counter electrode which has two drawbacks: limited surface area and high material cost. Poor mechanical stability of carbon layer due to weak bonding strength to electrically conductive TCO (transparent conducting oxide) glass substrate is a crucial barrier for practical application of carbon counter electrode. In the present study a carbon counter electrode with high conversion efficiency, comparable to Pt counter electrode, could be fabricated by adaption of a bonding layer between particulate carbon material and TCO substrate.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 2016

Long-term stability of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) module is critical for the commercialization. We investigated the effect of sealing technology on the long-term stability of the $10cm{\times}11cm$ sized DSSC modules. We applied the concept of secondary sealing to the module and then performed several stability tests such as humidity cycle, 1 sun light soaking and outdoor stability tests. The enhanced stability was confirmed for the DSSC module employing optimized sealing materials and architectures.