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Cr-doped TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells with Cr-doped TiO2 blocking layer

  • Original Paper: Devices based on sol-gel or hybrid materials
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Abstract

Cr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical sol–gel method. The anatase phase of TiO2 nanoparticles was proved by X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, the field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the size of the nanoparticles was about 30 nm. TiO2 nanoparticles with 0.5 % Cr dopant concentration were selected to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells due to their smaller band gap. Furthermore, Cr-doped TiO2 thin films (0.5 %) with different thicknesses were employed as blocking layer on the surface of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The current density–voltage measurement showed that the photovoltaic parameters of the fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells were improved after introducing Cr-doped TiO2 blocking layer at the interface of FTO and Cr-doped TiO2 mesoporous layer. The maximum power conversion efficiency increased more than 110 % as a result of inserting the Cr-doped blocking layer. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that a more efficient charge transfer process takes place at the interface of the FTO/TiO2 due to the enhanced interfacial properties and reduction of charge recombination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin 1983969411, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Asemi, Saeedeh Maleki & Majid Ghanaatshoar

  2. Solar Cells Research Group, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin 1983969411, Tehran, Iran

    Morteza Asemi, Saeedeh Maleki & Majid Ghanaatshoar

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  1. Morteza Asemi
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Correspondence to Majid Ghanaatshoar.

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Asemi, M., Maleki, S. & Ghanaatshoar, M. Cr-doped TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cells with Cr-doped TiO2 blocking layer. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 81, 645–651 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4257-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4257-z

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