ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells: influence of structural properties on cell performance

Juan A. Anta^a, Gerko Oskam^b

^aPablo de Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain, Carretera de Utrera, km. 1, Montequinto, Spain

^bDepartment of Applied Physics, CINVESTAV-IPN, Ant. Carr. a Progreso km 6, Cordemex, Mérida, Yucatán, 97310, Mexico

International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics
Proceedings of International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics 2015 (HOPV15)

Roma, Italy, 2015 May 11th - 13th

Organizer: Filippo De Angelis

Poster, Gerko Oskam, 170
Publication date: 5th February 2015

ZnO is an interesting material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DCSs) related to the large variety of low-temperature synthesis methods that allow for easy manipulation of the morphology and texture of the material. The morphology is expected to influence the performance of the dye solar cells through a variety of effect, for example, the exposed crystal facets may affect the dye bonding, dye coverage, and injection efficiency, the electron transfer kinetics to the solution, and the trap state distribution. Hence, it is interesting to compare different ZnO nanomaterials in solar cells [1]. We have used a variety of methods to prepare ZnO photoanodes, with as focus sol-gel precipitation of nanoparticles in different chemical environments to tailor de surface properties. Using these materials, we have compared the electron transport and recombination properties using small-signal perturbation techniques. The electron diffusion coefficient is generally found to reproduce typical behavior predicted by multiple-trapping and hopping models, with an exponential increase with respect to applied bias. In contrast, in ZnO nanostructured thin films of controlled texture and crystallinity prepared via a plasma chemical vapor deposition method the diffusion coefficient is found to be independent of electrochemical bias, suggesting a different transport mechanism [2]. By comparing the results of a series of different texture ZnO materials, a relation is proposed between surface chemistry and cell performance. In addition, the influence of solution additives on the performance of ZnO-based dye-sensitized solar cells is discussed and rationalized.

1. J.A. Anta, E. Guillén, R. Tena-Zaera, J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 11413-11425 (2012). 2. Vega-Poot, A.G.; Macías-Montero, M.; Idígoras-León, J. A.; Borrás, A.; Barranco, A.; Gonzalez- Elipe, A. R.; Lizama-Tzec, F. I.; Oskam, G.; Anta, J. A. Mechanisms of electron transport and recombination in ZnO nanostructures for dye-sensitized solar cells. ChemPhysChem. 15, 1088-1097 (2014).

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