Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
Creators
- 1. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2280 (Japan)
- 2. Laboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingenierie Chimiques, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)
- 3. New Business Research Center, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., 13-2 Kitaminato-Machi, Wakamatsu-Ku, Kitakyuushu, Fukuoka 808-0027 (Japan)
Description
In order to improve the photo energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), it is important to optimize their porous TiO2 electrodes. This paper examines the surface and cross-sectional views of the electrodes using scanning electron micrography. Two types of samples for cross-sectional viewing were prepared by mechanically breaking the substrate and by using an Ar-ion etching beam. The former displays the surface of the TiO2 particles and the latter shows the cross-section of the TiO2 particles. We found interesting surface and cross-sectional structures in the scattering layer containing the 400 nm diameter particles, which have an angular and horned shape. The influence of TiO2 particle size and the thickness of the nanocrystalline-TiO2 electrode in DSCs using four kinds of sensitizing dyes (D 149, K 19, N 719 and Z 907) and two kinds of electrolytes (acetonitrile-based and ionic-liquid electrolytes) are discussed in regards to conversion efficiency, which this paper aims to optimize.
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- International Journal of Photoenergy (Print)
- Journal Volume
- 2009
- Journal Issue
- 2009
- Journal Page Range
- p. 8
- ISSN
- 1110-662X
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Egypt
- Country of Input or Organization
- Egypt
- INIS RN
- 41073779
- Subject category
- S37: INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY;
- Descriptors DEI
- ARSENIC IONS; CROSS SECTIONS; DYES; ELECTRODES; ELECTROLYTES; ETCHING; POROUS MATERIALS; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SOLAR CELLS; SYNTHESIS; TITANIUM OXIDES
- Descriptors DEC
- CHALCOGENIDES; CHARGED PARTICLES; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; EQUIPMENT; IONS; MATERIALS; MICROSCOPY; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS; PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS; SOLAR EQUIPMENT; SURFACE FINISHING; TITANIUM COMPOUNDS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS