Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Modifications, and Applications

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) offer the possibilities to design solar cells with a large flexibility in shape, color, and transparency. DSC research groups have been established around the worl ...

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Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Excitonic solar cells1—including organic, hybrid organic–inorganic and dye-sensitized cells (DSCs)—are promising devices for inexpensive, large-scale solar energy conversion. The DSC is currently the most efficient2 and stable3 excitonic photocell. Central to this device is a thick nanoparticle film that provides a large surface area for the adsorption of light-harvesting molecules. However, nanoparticle DSCs rely on trap-limited diffusion for electron transport, a slow mechanism that can limit device efficiency, especially at longer wavelengths. Here we introduce a version of the dye-sensitized cell in which the traditional nanoparticle film is replaced by a dense array of oriented, crystalline ZnO nanowires. The nanowire anode is synthesized by mild aqueous chemistry and features a surface area up to one-fifth as large as a nanoparticle cell. The direct electrical pathways provided by the nanowires ensure the rapid collection of carriers generated throughout the device, and a full Sun efficiency of 1.5% is demonstrated, limited primarily by the surface area of the nanowire array.

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Nanowire dye-sensitized solar cells

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) provides a technically and economically credible alternative concept to present day p–n junction photovoltaic devices. In contrast to the conventional systems where the semiconductor assume both the task of light absorption and charge carrier transport the two functions are separated here. Light is absorbed by a sensitizer, which is anchored to the surface of a wide band semiconductor. Charge separation takes place at the interface via photo-induced electron injection from the dye into the conduction band of the solid. Carriers are transported in the conduction band of the semiconductor to the charge collector. The use of sensitizers having a broad absorption band in conjunction with oxide films of nanocrstalline morphology permits to harvest a large fraction of sunlight. Nearly quantitative conversion of incident photon into electric current is achieved over a large spectral range extending from the UV to the near IR region. Overall solar (standard AM 1.5) to current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) over 10% have been reached. There are good prospects to produce these cells at lower cost than conventional devices. Here we present the current state of the field, discuss new concepts of the dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cell (DSC) including heterojunction variants and analyze the perspectives for the future development of the technology.

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Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) made from oriented, one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures such as nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes are receiving attention because direct connection of the point of photogeneration with the collection electrode using such structures may improve the cell performance. Specifically, oriented single-crystalline TiO2 nanorods or nanowires on a transparent conductive substrate would be most desirable, but achieving these structures has been limited by the availability of synthetic techniques. In this study, a facile, hydrothermal method was developed for the first time to grow oriented, single-crystalline rutile TiO2 nanorod films on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. The diameter, length, and density of the nanorods could be varied by changing the growth parameters, such as growth time, growth temperature, initial reactant concentration, acidity, and additives. The epitaxial relation between the FTO substrate and rutile TiO2 with a smal...

Growth of oriented single-crystalline rutile TiO(2) nanorods on transparent conducting substrates for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Adding certain adsorbents in conjunction with the sensitizing dye employed in high-efficiency TiO2 nanoparticle solar cells has been shown to increase the photovoltage It is has been speculated that the increased photovoltage is due to these hydrophobic adsorbents passivating surface states that mitigate the recombination of photoinjected electrons with redox species in the electrolyte In collaboration with the DOE Office of Science Program, we are conducting transient-photovoltage measurements to determine the mechanism for the improved photovoltage

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Tailoring the Interface to Improve Voc in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The composition of the electrolyte is known to greatly influence the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells It has been speculated that some components of the electrolyte passivate the TiO2 surface against recombination; however, this has never been confirmed experimentally We hereby present the first case of passivation of the TiO2 surface against recombination by an additive in the electrolyte Even though the additive also causes a downward movement of the TiO2 bands, suppression of recombination prevails and an overall improvement in open-circuit photovoltage is observed This work was conducted in collaboration with the DOE Office of Science program

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First Demonstration of Surface Passivation in Dye-Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells by an Additive in the Electrolyte

We study the carrier transport and separation in planar and porous PS devices, which is one of the most fundamental operation mechanisms of solar cells, by profiling the electrical potential across the devices. We found that the PV devices work by p-n junction at the TiO2/PS interface for the both device structures. Combining the potential profiling results with the solar cell performance parameters taken on the optimized and thickened devices, we found that mobility is the main factor limiting the device performance. Improving the mobility both within grains and across grain boundaries (or enlarging the grain size) are expected to significantly improve the device efficiency.

Real-space distributions of electrical potential in planar and porous perovskite solar cells: Carrier separation and transport

The conclusions of this report are that: (1) organic solar cells with efficiencies of up to 1.43% conversion efficiency that use no ITO and no PEDOT:PSS, are demonstrated; (2) a cell without ITO, but with PEDOT:PSS gave 2.6% conversion efficiency; (3) due to porous nature of SWCNT substrates, optimization of the active layer is essential; and (4) SWCNT electrodes bring one step closer the goal of a fully printable, organic solar cell.

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Efficient Organic Excitonic Solar Cells with Carbon Nanotubes Replacing In2O3:Sn as the Transparent Electrode (Presentation)

To totally decarbonize global electrical systems using photovoltaics (PVs) in the 2050–2060 decade, the world would need to install 63.4 TW of PV. This article models and explores how a PV manufacturing ramp‐up trajectory toward this goal can be achieved while assuming that investors continue to make financially rational decisions avoiding stranded production assets and therefore protecting their return on investment. The model effectively exploits experience curve benefits in both the scaling of the manufacturing process and continued progress in product design technologies. The scale‐up challenge is amplified because trajectories that achieve this goal require an unprecedented ramp‐up of production capacity over just two decades, followed by relatively modest demand to maintain the installed base and support continued population growth. It is demonstrated that sustainable ramp‐up of manufacturing is indeed possible and shown that the deployment of the requisite manufacturing capacity can be accelerated and accomplished at lower total capital cost by the introduction of disruptive technologies that have lower capital intensity, embedded energy, or higher efficiency.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/solr.202300102

J. van de Lagemaat

Papers

Tailoring the Interface to Improve Voc in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

First Demonstration of Surface Passivation in Dye-Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells by an Additive in the Electrolyte

Real-space distributions of electrical potential in planar and porous perovskite solar cells: Carrier separation and transport

Efficient Organic Excitonic Solar Cells with Carbon Nanotubes Replacing In2O3:Sn as the Transparent Electrode (Presentation)

Photovoltaic Deployment Scenarios toward Global Decarbonization: Role of Disruptive Technologies