Chemical sintering of TiO2 based photoanode for efficient dye sensitized solar cells using Zn nanoparticles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
Recombination reactions due to poor inter-particle contact at lower temperatures (< 450 °C) is a bottle neck for cost effective flexible dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, TiO2sintering to Coble initial stage at low temperatures has been achieved with low melting point zinc (Zn) metal nanoparticles. Zn nanoparticles showed improved inter-particle contact by formation of necks due to high surface diffusion at relatively lower temperatures (200 °C). Addition of Zn nanoparticles showed comparable, rather improved efficiency at 200 °C compared to reference TiO2photoanode fabricated at 450 °C due to neck formation and surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect. Morphological studies revealed high contact formation between TiO2 and Zn nanoparticles. Electrochemical impedance and Uv–vis spectroscopy showed improvements in charge transfer and light absorption activity respectively. Structural studies showed no any detectable change in phase due to high surface diffusion and capillary forces produced by Zn nanoparticles at the TiO2/Zn interface.
Keywords
Dye sensitized solar cell, Electron transfer, Neck formation, Plasmonic effect, Quantum capacitance, Sintering aid
Divisions
umpedac
Funders
UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre ( UMPEDAC ) and the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence ( HICoE ) Program Research Grant, UMPEDAC - 2016 (MOHE HICOE - UMPEDAC)
Publication Title
Ceramics International
Volume
44
Issue
15
Publisher
Elsevier