Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics (HOPV14)
Publication date: 1st March 2014
TiO2 nanoparticle films are used as photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells and have been produced high-efficiency devices. In spite of excellent photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies (PCE), it was known that TiO2 has a low electrons transport rate due to low electron mobility (1). However, ZnO has emerged as a promising alternative to replace TiO2, with marked improvements in performance of the cells produced based on ZnO. ZnO has higher electron mobility than TiO2 and alsohas a lower density of states in the conduction band, whichpromotes the rate of injected electrons as compared to the TiO2. Thus, the potential use of the ZnO solar cell includes good electron transport and rapid transfer of load due to high electron mobility, 2-3 orders of magnitude higher compared with anatase TiO2(2). However, the PCE with ZnO is still lower than with TiO2. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are promising materials of their exceptional electrical properties, thermal stability, high surface area, and tubular structure. The introduction of CNT, single-walled (SWCNT) or multi-walled (MWCNT) tubes, as electrodes in organic solar cells and DSSC has already been carried out. There is a general agreement that CNT can efficiently enhance the transport of electrons and holes, besides providing a higher surface area and electronic conductivity, which confers higher photoconversion efficiency for these solar cells. In this work we present the approach of SWCNT-decorated ZnO films (3,4). Firstly, ZnO solution was prepared by Pechini method and a thin layer of ZnO precursor was deposited on FTO coated glass wafer using spin coating technique. It was heat treated at 500°C for 1 hour. After that, ZnO nanowires were grown on ZnO thin layer by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis at 160°C for 1 hour. To decoration, SWCNT were deposited on ZnO nanowires using spray pyrolysis technique. The characterization of the material was performed by X-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results of X-rays patterns showed the peaks relating to the crystallization of zinc oxide. The images of FE-SEM shows the precursor layer composed of spheric nanosize particles and the ZnO wire on the top of the film. In add, by FE-SEM we can to observe SWCNT incorporated on Zno wires. Preliminary measurements of the final device have been performed with the sensibilization with N3 dye and Pt counter electrode, proving that this electrode is an interesting and promissory photoelectrode to be used in solar cells.
Fig. 1 FE-SEM images of NTC-decorated ZnO nanowires
(1)Chandiran, A. K.; Abdi-Jalebi, M.; Nazeeruddin, M. K.; Gratzel, M. Analysis of Electron Transfer Properties of ZnO and TiO2 Photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. Published online 10.1021/nn405535j. (2) Guérin, V. M.; Rathousky, J.; Pauporté. T. H. Electrochemical design of ZnO hierarchical structures for dye-sensitized solar cells 2012, 102, 8–14. (3)Grätzel, M.; O’Regean, B. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 1991, 353, 737-739. 4)Morais, A. de; Loiola, L. M.D.; Benedetti, J. E.; Gonçalves, A. S.; Avellaneda, C. A.O.; Clerici, J. H.; Cotta, M. A.; Nogueira, A. F. Enhancing in the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells by the incorporation of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes into TiO2 films: The role of MWCNT addition. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 2013, 251, 78– 84.
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