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Nitrogen-doped submicron-size TiO2 particles as bifunctional light scatterers in dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

The structural, electrical, optical, and photovoltaic properties of aggregated submicron nitrogen-doped TiO2 particles (NTiO2) and the influence of utilizing them, in comparison with undoped ones, as the light-scattering layer of dye-sensitized solar cells were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and diffuse reflectance spectra showed that both type samples have similar morphology, crystal phase, and scattering feature. Moreover, photoluminescence, Mott–Schottkey, and photovoltaic characteristics such as IMPS/IMVS and charge extraction analysis indicated that the NTiO2 layer is an efficient scatterer in two aspects: enhancement of light-harvesting efficiency by having submicron-size centers and modification of the electrical properties such as charge collection efficiency in photoanode. As a result, the overall conversion efficiency reached 7.34 % upon employing NTiO2 as the light-scattering layer, which is 13 % higher than undoped one. This improvement is a consequence of trap density reduction, electrons transfer enhancement in the interface of photoactive/scattering layer, and shunt resistance increment at photoelectrode/electrolyte interface.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, 11365-9161, Tehran, Iran

    Shiva Shogh, Azam Iraji zad & Nima Taghavinia

  2. Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran

    Raheleh Mohammadpour, Azam Iraji zad & Nima Taghavinia

Authors
  1. Shiva Shogh
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  2. Raheleh Mohammadpour
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  3. Azam Iraji zad
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  4. Nima Taghavinia
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Correspondence to Azam Iraji zad.

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Shogh, S., Mohammadpour, R., Iraji zad, A. et al. Nitrogen-doped submicron-size TiO2 particles as bifunctional light scatterers in dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 119, 1283–1290 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9094-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9094-3

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