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Hybrid WO3-nanorods/TiO2 photoanodes for improved dye-sensitized solar cells performances under back illumination

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Abstract

Anatase TiO2 photoanodes were modified by hydrothermally synthesized WO3 nanorods for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Two different configurations were investigated differing in the location of WO3 nanorods: (i) A thin undercoat of WO3 nanorods was produced on the FTO substrate, under a layer of commercial TiO2, (ii) 0.5 wt% of WO3 nanorods were introduced into a commercial TiO2 paste. FE-SEM images confirmed the nanorod shape of the particles and the orthorhombic structure of WO3 was verified by XRD analysis. Photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy under UV-C light irradiation revealed an increase in charge transfer resistance with the addition of WO3 nanorods for both configurations. For front illumination, the photovoltaic results showed that despite the screen effect of WO3 nanorods layer which negatively impacted the Voc, cells with WO3 nanorods undercoat showed better performance than cells with WO3 nanorods introduced in the TiO2 matrix, the latter suffered from reduced dye loading and light harvesting ability. Conversely in the case of back illumination, the introduced undercoat of WO3 nanorods had a positive effect on the performance of the cell, with an increase in both Voc and Jsc. The excellent electron mobility and specific nanorod shape of WO3 contributed to charge trapping and injection into the conductive substrate, thereby reducing recombination and dark current. In addition, the scattering nature of the WO3 nanorods undercoat was beneficial for light harvesting in the photoanode in the case of back illumination. Such a result opens the way to potential indoor applications.

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All data generated and analyzed during the current study are included in this published article.

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Funding

This work was supported by research program of the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National Des Recherches en Sciences Des Matériaux, Technopôle Borj Cedria, BP. 273, 8020, Soliman, Tunisia

    Mehdi Ismail

  2. Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, 351 Cours de La Libération, F-33405, Talence, Cédex, France

    Céline Olivier & Thierry Toupance

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  1. Mehdi Ismail
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  2. Céline Olivier
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  3. Thierry Toupance
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Contributions

MI: material preparation, data collection and analysis, and original draft preparation. CO: assembling of DSScells and photovoltaic characterization. TT: reviewing and supervision.

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Correspondence to Mehdi Ismail.

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Ismail, M., Olivier, C. & Toupance, T. Hybrid WO3-nanorods/TiO2 photoanodes for improved dye-sensitized solar cells performances under back illumination. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 936 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10335-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10335-8

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