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Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO nanoneedle/TiO2 nanoparticle composite photoelectrodes with controllable weight ratio

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2012

Lihong Qi ,
Qingshan Wang ,
Tieshi Wang ,
Chunyan Li ,
Qiuyun Ouyang  and
Yujin Chen
Lihong Qi*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Qingshan Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Tieshi Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Chunyan Li
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Qiuyun Ouyang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
Yujin Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Science, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, People’s Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: lihongqi@hrbeu.edu.cn
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Abstract

To possess the merits of both building blocks, i.e., the rapid interfacial electron transport of ZnO nanoneedles (NNs) and the high surface area of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), the ZnO NN and TiO2 NP composite photoelectrodes were prepared with controllable weight ratio. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) prototypes were fabricated based on this composite photoelectrodes, and the photoelectrical properties have been systematically studied. The results indicate that the composite cells achieve higher power conversion efficiency compared to pure TiO2 NP cells by rational tuning the weight ratio of ZnO NNs and TiO2NPs. The DSSC with 1 wt% ZnO NNs yields the highest η of 5.16%. It is elucidated by the interfacial electron transfer of DSSC with different weight of ZnO NNs using the electrochemical impedance spectra. And it is found that the DSSC with 1 wt% ZnO NNs displays the fastest interfacial electron transfer.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 27 , Issue 23 , 14 December 2012 , pp. 2982 - 2987
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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