Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Orderly decorated nanostructural photoelectrodes with uniform spherical TiO2 particles for dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study presents a novel nanostructural electrode made of 20-nm-diameter nanoparticles, which orderly decorated with 2-µm TiO2 particles, deposited by a new gel process. The decorated electrode (DE) is better than the non-decorated electrode (NE) in both light scattering and light harvesting, as confirmed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction reveals that both electrodes have a mixture of anatase and rutile phases. The dye-sensitized solar cell based on the decorated electrode shows the highest power conversion efficiency of 7.80% as a result of less recombination demonstrated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. From internal power conversion efficiency measurement, the external quantum efficiency of DE cell at 530 nm is 89%, which is higher than that of NE cell (77%).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. O’Regan B, Grätzel M. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature, 1991, 353(6346): 737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mohammadi M R, Bakhshayesh A M, Sadri F, Masroor M. Improved efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells by design of a proper double layer photoanode electrodes composed of Cr-doped TiO2 transparent and light scattering layers. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 2013, 67(1): 77087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang Y Z, Chen E L, Lai H M, Lu B, Hu Z L, Qin X M, Shi W Z, Du G P. Enhanced light scattering and photovoltaic performance for dye-sensitized solar cells by embedding submicron SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles in photoanode. Ceramics International, 2013, 39(5): 5407–5413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Xu J L, Li K, Shi W Y, Peng T Y. Rice-like brookite titania as an efficient scattering layer for nanosized anatase titania film-based dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 260: 233–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bakhshayesh A M, Mohammadi M R, Dadar H, Fray D J. Improved efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells aided by corn-like TiO2 nanowires as the light scattering layer. Electrochimica Acta, 2013, 90: 302–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chen D H, Huang F Z, Cheng Y B, Caruso R A, Chen D H, Huang F Z, Cheng Y B, Caruso R A. Mesoporous anatase TiO2 beads with high surface areas and controllable pore sizes: A superior candidate for high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells. Advanced Materials, 2009, 21(21): 2206–2210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bakhshayesh A M, Mohammadi M R, Fray D J. Controlling electron transport rate and recombination process of TiO2 dyesensitized solar cells by design of double-layer films with different arrangement modes. Electrochimica Acta, 2012, 78: 384–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bakhshayesh A M, Mohammadi M R. The improvement of electron transport rate of TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells using mixed nanostructures with different phase compositions. Ceramics International, 2013, 39(7): 7343–7353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Deepak T D, Anjusree G S, Thomas S, Arun T A, Nair S V, Sreekumaran Nair A. A review on materials for light scattering in dye-sensitized solar cells. RSC Advances, 2014, 4(34): 17615–17638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Usami A. Theoretical study of application of multiple scattering of light to a dye sensitized nanocrystalline photoelectrichemical cell. Chemical Physics Letters, 1997, 277(1–3): 105–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang Z S, Kawauchi H, Kashima T, Arakawa H. Significant influence of TiO2 photoelectrode morphology on the energy conversion efficiency of N719 dye-sensitized solar cell. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2004, 248(13–14): 1381–1389

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ferber J, Luther J. Computer simulations of light scattering and absorption in dye-sensitized solar cells. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 1998, 54(1–4): 265–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kang S H, Kim J Y, Kim H S, Koh H D, Lee J S, Sung Y E. Influence of light scattering particles in the TiO2 photoelectrode for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2008, 200(2–3): 294–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Liang J, Zhang G, Xia H, Sun W. Room-temperature fabrication of dual-functional hierarchical TiO2 spheres for dye-sensitized solar cells. RSC Advances, 2014, 4(25): 12649–12652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang Q, Chou T P, Russo B, Jenekhe S A, Cao G. Aggregation of ZnO nanocrystallites for high conversion efficiency in dyesensitized solar cells. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2008, 47(13): 2402–2406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bakhshayesh A M, Mohammadi M R. Development of nanostructured porous TiO2 thick film with uniform spherical particles by a new polymeric gel process for dye-sensitized solar cell applications. Electrochimica Acta, 2013, 89: 90–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ito S, Liska P, Pechy P, Bach U, Nazeeruddin M K, Kay A, Zekeeruddin S M, Grätzel M. Control of dark current in photoelectrochemical (TiO2/I-–I3-) and dye-sensitized solar cells. Chemical Communications, 2005, 34(34): 4351–4353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Jeong N C, Farha O K, Hupp J T. A convenient Route to high area, nanoparticulate TiO2 photoelectrodes suitable for high-efficiency energy conversion in dye-sensitized solar cells. Langmuir, 2011, 27(5): 1996–1999

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Spurr R A, Myers H. Quantitative analysis of anatase-rutile mixtures with anX-ray diffractometer. Analytical Chemistry, 1957, 29(5): 760–762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Cullity B D, Stock S R. Elements of X-ray diffraction. Lawrence: Prentice Hall, 2001, 96–102

    Google Scholar 

  21. Yang L, Lin Y, Jia J, Xiao X, Li X, Zhou X. Light harvesting enhancement for dye-sensitized solar cells by novel anode containing cauliflower-like TiO2 spheres. Journal of Power Sources, 2008, 182(1): 370–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Feigenbrugel C, Loew S L, Calvé P, Mirabel J. Near-UV molar absorptivities ofacetone, alachlor, metolachlor, diazinon and dichlorvos in aqueous solution. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2005, 174(1): 76–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Longo C, Freitas J, De Paoli M A. Performance and stability of TiO2 dye solar cells assembled with flexible electrodes and a polymer electrolyte. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2003, 159(1): 33–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lin Y P, Lin S Y, Lee Y C, Chen Y W. High surface area electrospun prickle-like hierarchical anatase TiO2 nanofibers for dye-sensitized solar cell photoanodes. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2013, 1(34): 9875–9884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Schlichthorl G, Huang S Y, Sprague J, Frank A J. Band-edge movement and recombination kinetics in dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells: A study by intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 1997, 101(41): 8141–8155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang L W, Fu H B, Zhu Y F. Efficient TiO2 photocatalysts from surface hybridization of TiO2 particles with graphite-like carbon. Advanced Functional Materials, 2008, 18(15): 2180–2189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Martinson A A B F, Goes M S, Fabregat-Santiago F, Bisquert J, Pellin M J, Hupp J T. Electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanotubes: Evidence for highly efficient charge collection and exceptionally rapid dynamics. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2009, 113(16): 4015–4021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Fabregat-Santiago F, Bisquert J, Palomares E, Otero L, Kuang D, Zakeeruddin S M, Gratzel M. Correlation between photovoltaic performance and impedance spectroscopy of dye-sensitized solar cells based on ionic liquids. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2007, 111(17): 6550–6560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Tsai C H, Chang C W, Tsai Y T, Lu C Y, Chen M C, Huang T W, Wu C C. Novel three-layer TiO2 nanoparticle stacking architecture for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. Organic Electronics, 2013, 14(11): 2866–2874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research and Development, SUN Nanotechnologists Company, Tehran, 13488-96394, Iran

    A. M. Bakhshayesh & S. S. Azadfar

Authors
  1. A. M. Bakhshayesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. S. Azadfar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. M. Bakhshayesh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bakhshayesh, A.M., Azadfar, S.S. Orderly decorated nanostructural photoelectrodes with uniform spherical TiO2 particles for dye-sensitized solar cells. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. 9, 532–540 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-015-1549-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-015-1549-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation