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An efficient method to prepare high-performance dye-sensitized photoelectrodes using ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and TiO2 quantum dot blocking layers

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Abstract

High-performance dye-sensitized photoelectrodes using ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) and TiO2 quantum dot blocking layers are fabricated. The free-standing TNT membranes with perfect ordered morphology are prepared by three times of anodic oxidation on Ti foils. These TNT membranes can be easily transported to conductive glasses to fabricate front-side illuminated photoelectrodes. By changing anodic oxidation duration, the thickness of TNT membranes can be controlled, which shows significant influence on the UV-Vis reflectance and absorption abilities of TNT-based photoelectrodes and further influence photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs about 6.21 % can be obtained by using TNT membranes prepared with anodic oxidation of 3 h. For further improving photovoltaic performance of DSSCs, TiO2 quantum dot (QDs) blocking layers are inserted between conductive glasses and TNT membranes in the photoelectrodes, which show remarkable effects. The highest PCE of DSSCs with this kind of blocking layers can increase to 8.43 %, producing 35.75 % enhancement compared with that of the counterparts without TiO2 QD blocking layers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the supports of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. U1205112, 51002053, and 61474047), the Fujian Provincial Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (2015J06011), the Programs for Prominent Young Talents and New Century Excellent Talents in Fujian Province University, and the Promotion Program for Young and Middle-aged Teacher in Science and Technology Research of Huaqiao University (ZQN-YX102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Environment-Friendly Functional Materials, Ministry of Education, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Zhang Lan, Wanxia Wu, Sheng Zhang, Lanfang Que & Jihuai Wu

  2. Key Laboratory of Functional Materials for Fujian Higher Education, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Zhang Lan, Wanxia Wu, Sheng Zhang, Lanfang Que & Jihuai Wu

  3. Institute of Materials Physical Chemistry, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Zhang Lan, Wanxia Wu, Sheng Zhang, Lanfang Que & Jihuai Wu

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  1. Zhang Lan
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  2. Wanxia Wu
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  3. Sheng Zhang
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  4. Lanfang Que
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Correspondence to Zhang Lan.

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Lan, Z., Wu, W., Zhang, S. et al. An efficient method to prepare high-performance dye-sensitized photoelectrodes using ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays and TiO2 quantum dot blocking layers. J Solid State Electrochem 20, 2643–2650 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3263-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3263-y

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