CrOOH as high-performance surface passivation material for dye-sensitized solar cell

• Published in: Materials letters 2018-04, Vol.216, p.119-122
• Main Authors: Miclau, Marinela, Dabici, Anamaria, Vajda, Melinda, Ursu, Daniel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Barrier layers; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Energy efficiency; Energy storage and conversion; Hydrothermal crystal growth; Hydrothermal synthesis; Materials science; Nanomaterials; P-n junctions; P-type dye-sensitized solar cell; Passivity; Photovoltaic cells; Semiconductors; Solar energy; Solar energy materials; Studies; Valence band
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2017.12.137

•α-CrOOH was firstly explored as a passivation material for p-type DSSC.•Beneficial effect of α-CrOOH on photovoltaic performance of p-type DSSC was demonstrated.•p-type 3R-CuCrO2/n-type α-CrOOH photocathode is firstly used in p-type DSSC.•A doubling of JSC compared to the pure 3R-CuCrO2 photocathode has provided.•By α-CrOOH deposition, a threefold increase in the VOC was obtained. α-CrOOH was firstly explored as a passivation material for p-type dye-sensitized solar cell based on 3R-CuCrO2 delafossite and its beneficial effect on photovoltaic performance of p-type DSSC was demonstrated. α-CrOOH nanomaterial was obtained by a simple hydrothermal method using strong acid solution. The n-type α-CrOOH passivation of the p-type 3R-CuCrO2 film has provided a doubling of JSC and a threefold increase in the VOC compared to the pure 3R-CuCrO2 photocathode in DSSC. This remarkable enhancement could be explained in that α-CrOOH layer acts as a barrier layer for charge recombination between the holes in the valence band and the electrolyte or dye. In addition, formed p-n junction would facilitate the charge separation. Therefore, the α-CrOOH is proposed as a promising material to modify the photocathode of p-type DSSC with excellent photovoltaic efficiency.