ZnO@SnO2 engineered composite photoanodes for dye sensitized solar cells

Year: 2015

Authors: Milan R., Selopal G. S., Epifani M., Natile M. M., Sberveglieri G., Vomiero A., Concina I.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Brescia, Dept Informat Engn, I-25133 Brescia, Italy; CNR INO SENSOR Lab, I-25131 Brescia, Italy; IMM CNR, Ist Microelettron & Microsistemi, I-73100 Lecce, Italy; Univ Padua, Dept Chem Sci, CNR IENI, I-35131 Padua, Italy; Lulea Univ Technol, Dept Engn Sci & Math, S-97187 Lulea, Sweden.

Abstract: Layered multi-oxide concept was applied for fabrication of photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO and SnO2, capitalizing on the beneficial properties of each oxide. The effect of different combinations of ZnO@SnO2 layers was investigated, aimed at exploiting the high carrier mobility provided by the ZnO and the higher stability under UV irradiation pledged by SnO2. Bioxide photoanodes performed much better in terms of photoconversion efficiency (PCE) (4.96%) compared to bare SnO2 (1.20%) and ZnO (1.03%). Synergistic cooperation is effective for both open circuit voltage and photocurrent density: enhanced values were indeed recorded for the layered photoanode as compared with bare oxides (V-oc enhanced from 0.39 V in case of bare SnO2 to 0.60 V and J(sc) improved from 2.58 mA/cm(2) pertaining to single ZnO to 14.8 mA/cm(2)). Improved functional performances of the layered network were ascribable to the optimization of both high chemical capacitance (provided by the SnO2) and low recombination resistance (guaranteed by ZnO) and inhibition of back electron transfer from the SnO2 conduction band to the oxidized species of the electrolyte. Compared with previously reported results, this study testifies how a simple electrode design is powerful in enhancing the functional performances of the final device.

Journal/Review: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 5      Pages from: 14523-1  to: 14523-12

More Information: The authors acknowledge the European Commission for partial funding under the contract WIROX no. 295216. IC thanks the National Research Council under the Project Tecnologie e Materiali per l’utilizzo efficiente dell’energia solare (Regione Lombardia) for partial funding.
KeyWords: Open-circuit Voltage; Electrical-properties; Nanocrystalline Sno2; Charge-transport; Zno; Efficiency; Tio2; Oxide; Electrodes; Conversion
DOI: 10.1038/srep14523

ImpactFactor: 5.228
Citations: 49
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