Abstract
Introduction of an ultrathin compact layer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) can improve the cell efficiency under standard one sun illumination (> 100,000 lx). Herein, an ultrathin Nb2O5 layer is deposited on the TiO2-coated photoanode using a facial dip-coating method and its effects on the cell efficiency under a low level of light intensity (300–6000 lx) is studied. The results show that the ultrathin Nb2O5 layer helps the DSSCs to improve their power conversion efficiency (PCE) through different ways under standard one sun and low power illuminations. Under strong one sun illumination, the PCE of DSSC is improved by improving the short-circuit current density (JSC) which can be attributed to an increment of the surface area of photoanode for more dye adsorption and the blocking effect of Nb2O5. Under low power illumination, the introduction of Nb2O5 blocking layer improves the fill factor by effectively suppressing the charge recombination on the photoanode.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. O’Regan, M. Grätzel, A low-cost, high-efficiency solar-cell based on dye sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353, 737–740 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353737a0
S. Ito, T.N. Murakami, P. Comte, P. Liska, C. Grätzel, M.K. Nazeeruddin, M. Grätzel, Fabrication of thin film dye sensitized solar cells with solar to electric power conversion efficiency over 10%. Thin Solid Films 516, 4613–4619 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2007.05.090
F. Xie, S.J. Cherng, S. Lu, Y.H. Chang, W.E. Sha, S.P. Feng, C.M. Chen, W.C. Choy, Functions of self-assembled ultrafine TiO2 nanocrystals for high efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 6, 5367–5373 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1021/am5006628
K.-W. Cheng, H.-J. Jhang, C.-T. Li, K.-C. Ho, Solution-growth-synthesized Cu(In, Ga)Se2 nanoparticles in ethanol bath for the applications of dye-sensitized solar cell and photoelectrochemical reaction. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng. 74, 136–145 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2017.02.010
Y.-J. Lin, J.-W. Chen, P.-T. Hsiao, Y.-L. Tung, C.-C. Chang, C.-M. Chen, Efficiency improvement of dye-sensitized solar cells by in situ fluorescence resonance energy transfer. J. Mater. Chem. A 5, 9081–9089 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ta00638a
C.H. Huang, Y.W. Chen, C.M. Chen, Chromatic titanium photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells under rear illumination. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10, 2658–2666 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b18351
K.S.K. Reddy, Y.C. Chen, C.C. Wu, C.W. Hsu, Y.C. Chang, C.M. Chen, C.Y. Yeh, Cosensitization of structurally simple porphyrin and anthracene-based dye for dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10, 2391–2399 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b12960
C.-M. Chen, H.-S. Shiu, S.-J. Cherng, T.-C. Wei, Preparation of polymer film of micro-porous or island-like structure and its application in dye-sensitized solar cell. J. Power Sources 188, 319–322 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.10.138
S. Santhaveesuk, S. Pukird, C. Kahattha, A development nanocrystalline TiO2 based on dye sensitized solar cells with solid state electrolyte. Mater. Today Proc. 5, 14086–14090 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.02.067
Y. Fang, P. Ma, N. Fu, X. Zhou, S. Fang, Y. Lin, Surface NH2-rich nanoparticles: solidifying ionic-liquid electrolytes and improving the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Power Sources 370, 20–26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.10.007
Y.-C. Chen, Y.-C. Chang, C.-M. Chen, The study of blocking effect of Nb2O5 in dye-sensitized solar cells under low power lighting. J. Electrochem. Soc. 165, F409–F416 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0091807jes
C.-H. Chen, P.-T. Chou, T.-C. Yin, K.-F. Chen, M.-L. Jiang, Y.J. Chang, C.-K. Tai, B.-C. Wang, Rational design of cost-effective dyes for high performance dye-sensitized cells in indoor light environments. Org. Electron. 59, 69–76 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2018.04.048
F. De Rossi, T. Pontecorvo, T.M. Brown, Characterization of photovoltaic devices for indoor light harvesting and customization of flexible dye solar cells to deliver superior efficiency under artificial lighting. Appl. Energy 156, 413–422 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.07.031
Y.-C. Liu, H.-H. Chou, F.-Y. Ho, H.-J. Wei, T.-C. Wei, C.-Y. Yeh, A feasible scalable porphyrin dye for dye-sensitized solar cells under one sun and dim light environments. J. Mater. Chem. A 4, 11878–11887 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta04097g
P. Zhai, H. Lee, Y.-T. Huang, T.-C. Wei, S.-P. Feng, Study on the blocking effect of a quantum-dot TiO2 compact layer in dye-sensitized solar cells with ionic liquid electrolyte under low-intensity illumination. J. Power Sources 329, 502–509 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.08.118
M. Freitag, J. Teuscher, Y. Saygili, X. Zhang, F. Giordano, P. Liska, J. Hua, S.M. Zakeeruddin, J.-E. Moser, M. Grätzel, A. Hagfeldt, Dye-sensitized solar cells for efficient power generation under ambient lighting. Nat. Photonics 11, 372–378 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2017.60
C.-P. Lee, C.-A. Lin, T.-C. Wei, M.-L. Tsai, Y. Meng, C.-T. Li, K.-C. Ho, C.-I. Wu, S.-P. Lau, J.-H. He, Economical low-light photovoltaics by using the Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cell with graphene dot/PEDOT:PSS counter electrodes. Nano Energy 18, 109–117 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2015.10.008
Y.S. Tingare, N.S.N. Vinh, H.-H. Chou, Y.-C. Liu, Y.-S. Long, T.-C. Wu, T.-C. Wei, C.-Y. Yeh, New acetylene-bridged 9,10-conjugated anthracene sensitizers: application in outdoor and indoor dye-sensitized solar cells. Adv. Energy Mater. 7, 1700032 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201700032
J.-L. Lan, T.-C. Wei, S.-P. Feng, C.-C. Wan, G. Cao, Effects of iodine content in the electrolyte on the charge transfer and power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells under low light intensities. J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 25727–25733 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp309872n
N. Sridhar, D. Freeman, A study of dye sensitized solar cells under indoor and low level outdoor lighting comparison to organic and inorganic thin film solar cells and methods to address maximum power point tracking. in 26 th EUPVSEC 2011, p. 232
K. Zhu, E.A. Schiff, N.G. Park, J. van de Lagemaat, A.J. Frank, Determining the locus for photocarrier recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 685–687 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1436533
B. Liu, E.S. Aydil, Growth of oriented single-crystalline rutile TiO2 nanorods on transparent conducting substrates for dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 3985–3990 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1021/ja8078972
S.G. Chen, S. Chappel, Y. Diamant, A. Zaban, Preparation of Nb2O5 coated TiO2 nanoporous electrodes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem. Mater. 13, 4629–4634 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1021/cm010343b
K.-S. Ahn, M.-S. Kang, J.-K. Lee, B.-C. Shin, J.-W. Lee, Enhanced electron diffusion length of mesoporous TiO2 film by using Nb2O5 energy barrier for dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 013103 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2218831
E. Barea, X. Xu, V. González-Pedro, T. Ripollés-Sanchis, F. Fabregat-Santiago, J. Bisquert, Origin of efficiency enhancement in Nb2O5 coated titanium dioxide nanorod based dye sensitized solar cells. Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 3414 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1039/c1ee01193f
P. Du, L. Song, J. Xiong, Y. Yuan, L. Wang, Z. Xi, D. Jin, J. Chen, TiO2/Nb2O5 core–sheath nanofibers film: co-electrospinning fabrication and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrochem. Commun. 25, 46–49 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2012.09.013
H.N. Kim, J.H. Moon, Enhanced photovoltaic properties of Nb2O5-coated TiO2 3D ordered porous electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 4, 5821–5825 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/am3014554
W. Liu, C. Hong, H.-G. Wang, M. Zhang, M. Guo, Enhanced photovoltaic performance of fully flexible dye-sensitized solar cells based on the Nb2O5 coated hierarchical TiO2 nanowire-nanosheet arrays. Appl. Surf. Sci. 364, 676–685 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.12.197
Y. Diamant, S.G. Chen, O. Melamed, A. Zaban, Core–shell nanoporous electrode for dye sensitized solar cells the effect of the SrTiO3 shell on the electronic properties of the TiO2 core. J. Phys. Chem. B 107, 1977–1981 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp027827v
K.E. Roelofs, T.P. Brennan, J.C. Dominguez, C.D. Bailie, G.Y. Margulis, E.T. Hoke, M.D. McGehee, S.F. Bent, Effect of Al2O3 recombination barrier layers deposited by atomic layer deposition in solid-state CdS quantum dot-sensitized solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. C 117, 5584–5592 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp311846r
S.K. Cushing, J. Li, F. Meng, T.R. Senty, S. Suri, M. Zhi, M. Li, A.D. Bristow, N. Wu, Photocatalytic activity enhanced by plasmonic resonant energy transfer from metal to semiconductor. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134, 15033–15041 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1021/ja305603t
S. Suresh, G.E. Unni, M. Satyanarayana, A.S. Nair, V.P.M. Pillai, Plasmonic Ag@Nb2O5 surface passivation layer on quantum confined SnO2 films for high current dye-sensitized solar cell applications. Electrochim. Acta 289, 1–12 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2018.08.078
S. Suresh, G.E. Unni, M. Satyanarayana, A.S. Nair, V.P.M. Pillai, Ag@ Nb2O5 plasmonic blocking layer for higher efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. Dalton Trans. 47, 4685–4700 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7DT04825D
T.C. Wei, C.C. Wan, Y.Y. Wang, Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-capped platinum nanoclusters on indium-tin oxide glass as counterelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 103122 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2186069
T.-C. Wei, C.-C. Wan, Y.-Y. Wang, C.-M. Chen, H.-S. Shiu, Immobilization of poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-capped platinum nanoclusters on indium–tin oxide glass and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 4847–4853 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp067501c
J.-L. Lan, C.-C. Wan, T.-C. Wei, W.-C. Hsu, Y.-H. Chang, Durability test of PVP-capped Pt nanoclusters counter electrode for highly efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell. Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 20, 44–50 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.1107
A. Zaban, M. Greenshtein, J. Bisquert, Determination of the electron lifetime in nanocrystalline dye solar cells by open-circuit voltage decay measurements. ChemPhysChem 4, 859–864 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200200615
J. Liang, G. Zhang, W. Sun, Post-treatment on dye-sensitized solar cells with TiCl4 and Nb2O5. RSC Adv. 4, 6746 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ra46188b
L. Jiang, L. Sun, D. Yang, J. Zhang, Y.J. Li, K. Zou, W.Q. Deng, Niobium-doped (001)-dominated anatase TiO2 nanosheets as photoelectrode for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9, 9576–9583 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b14147
K. Sayama, H. Sugihara, H. Arakawa, Photoelectrochemical properties of a porous Nb2O5 electrode sensitized by a ruthenium dye. Chem. Mater. 10, 3825–3832 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1021/cm980111l
J. Bisquert, A. Zaban, P. Salvador, Analysis of the mechanisms of electron recombination in nanoporous TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells. Nonequilibrium steady-state statistics and interfacial electron transfer via surface states. J. Phys. Chem. B 106, 8774–8782 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1021/jp026058c
X. Lu, X. Mou, J. Wu, D. Zhang, L. Zhang, F. Huang, F. Xu, S. Huang, Improved-performance dye-sensitized solar cells using Nb-doped TiO2 electrodes: efficient electron injection and transfer. Adv. Funct. Mater. 20, 509–515 (2010)
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the “Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture” from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan. This work was also financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (106-2119-M-005-001) in Taiwan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, KW., Chen, LS. & Chen, CM. Post-treatment of Nb2O5 compact layer in dye-sensitized solar cells for low-level lighting applications. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 15105–15115 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01883-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01883-z