Low temperature processable ultra-thin WO3 Langmuir-Blodgett film as excellent hole blocking layer for enhanced performance in dye sensitized solar cell

The hole-blocking and electron- transporting layer is an important component of third-generation solar cells. This layer is responsible for both hindering the hole recombination from the hole-transport layer and collecting photo-generated electrons; that in turn impact photon-to-current conversion e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electrochimica acta 2019-09, Vol.318, p.405-412
Main Authors: Prakash, Om, Saxena, Vibha, Choudhury, Sipra, Tanvi, Singh, Ajay, Debnath, A.K., Mahajan, A., Muthe, K.P., Aswal, D.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carrier mobility
Circuits
Dye sensitized solar cells
Dyes
Hole blocking Layer
Langmuir-Blodgett films
Low temperature
Low temperature crystalline WO3
Morphology
Multilayers
Performance enhancement
Photovoltaic cells
Short circuit currents
Thermal stability
Thin films
Titanium dioxide
Transport
Tungsten oxides
Work functions
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Summary:The hole-blocking and electron- transporting layer is an important component of third-generation solar cells. This layer is responsible for both hindering the hole recombination from the hole-transport layer and collecting photo-generated electrons; that in turn impact photon-to-current conversion efficiency (ɳ) of devices. Conventionally, WO3 is being used as hole-transport layer owing to high work function and carrier mobility; and excellent thermal stability. In this paper we report ultra-thin WO3 films, prepared by UVO-treatment of WO3-octadecylamine Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers, for use as blocking layers in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For the first time, it is observed that ɳ of DSSCs with optimized WO3 blocking layer improved significantly (21%) as compared to those based on conventional TiO2 blocking layers. The improvement in ɳ is the result of improved short-circuit current density which is obtained without any accompanying reduction in open-circuit potential and fill factor. This is attributable to the dense and uniform morphology, excellent hole-blocking properties, crystallinity and proper position of Fermi level. The analyses not only reveal that ɳ of DSSCs can be enhanced by employing ultra-thin WO3 LB films as blocking layers but also suggest that the films can possibly be extended further for perosvskite and polymer solar cells. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0013-4686
1873-3859
DOI:10.1016/j.electacta.2019.06.047