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Enhanced photovoltaic performance of photoanodes based on Eu-doped ZnO nanowire arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Eu-doped ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates with assistance of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) through Mannich reactions and used as photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Structural characterizations indicate the Eu ions have been incorporated into the ZnO crystalline lattice. An overall light-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 2.64 % was achieved for the DSC based on the 6 % Eu-doped ZnO NW array under AM 1.5 G illumination, and this η was found to significantly increase compared with that of the DSC with undoped ZnO NW array as the photoanode (2.01 %). Meanwhile, the fill factor (FF) of the DSC was upgraded from 63.2 to 78 %. Furthermore, the enhanced electron injection and transport abilities of Eu-doped ZnO NW arrays based on the DSC were revealed by the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectrum. This research demonstrates an effective way to resolve the low efficiency of DSCs due to the FF drop as well as a great potential for the expanding practical application of rare earth metals.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 20176066). The authors also thank SN Engr. Long Chen of Jiangxi Risun Solar Energy Co., Ltd., for the J–V and IPCE measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Xiao Li, Mengyu Gan, Li Ma, Jun Yan & Jun Zhang

  2. School of Chemistry and Material, Yulin Normal University, Yulin, Guangxi, 537000, China

    Xiao Li & Yan Yang

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  1. Xiao Li
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  2. Mengyu Gan
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  3. Yan Yang
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  4. Li Ma
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  5. Jun Yan
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  6. Jun Zhang
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Correspondence to Li Ma.

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Li, X., Gan, M., Yang, Y. et al. Enhanced photovoltaic performance of photoanodes based on Eu-doped ZnO nanowire arrays for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Solid State Electrochem 19, 3059–3066 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-015-2886-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-015-2886-8

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