Dye-sensitized solar cell based on AZO/Ag/AZO multilayer transparent conductive oxide film

Highlights: ► AZO/Ag/AZO (AAA) multilayer was used for working electrode of DSSC cell. ► The 100 nm-thick Nb-doped TiO2 layer showed a good blocking effect. ► The DSSC cell by AAA TCO material showed the highest efficiency of about 3.25%. -- Abstract: Niobium-doped TiO2 blocking layer and Al-doped ZnO (AZO)/Ag/AZO (AAA) TCO layers were grown onto glass substrate using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and direct current (dc)/radio-frequency (rf) sputtering at room temperature, respectively for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. The 100 nm-thick NTO layer showed a blocking effect for the oxygen diffusion into AAA layer and for the recombination of the electrons. The DSSC cell composed of the NTO (100 nm)/AAA (400 nm) showed the highest photo-electrical efficiency of about 3.25%. An insertion of aluminum foil between serrated clip and AAA (100 nm) TCO improved a photo-conversion efficiency of the DSSC