Enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye sensitized solar cells using one dimensional ZnO nanorod decorated porous TiO2 film electrode

• Published in: Applied surface science 2014-02, Vol.292, p.297-300
• Main Authors: Yang, Long, Ma, Qing-lan, Cai, Yungao, Huang, Yuan Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Decoration; Dye adsorption amount; Dye sensitized solar cells; Dyes; Electrodes; Energy barrier layer; Energy conversion efficiency; Exact sciences and technology; Nanostructure; Photovoltaic cells; Physics; Power conversion efficiency; Solar cells; Titanium dioxide; Zinc oxide; ZnO nanorod decorated porous TiO2 film
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.11.134

•A low cost effective photoanode is prepared by a simple hydrothermal route.•The specific surface area of photoanode is increased by the grown ZnO nanorod.•Transport mechanism and recombination process are studied by energy band structure.•The result shows that the efficiency is improved by more than triple. A low cost and effective working electrode with one dimensional ZnO nanorod grown on the porous TiO2 film is used to improve the power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells. The one dimensional ZnO nanorod is introduced into the porous TiO2 film by a simple and facile hydrothermal route, and the obtained composite film is characterized using the field-emission scan electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photocurrent–voltage curves of fabricated dye sensitized solar cells are measured by a solar cell measurement system. Compared with the bare porous TiO2 film based dye sensitized solar cell, it is found that the power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell with ZnO nanorod decorated TiO2 porous film was improved by more than triple. It is mainly believed that the improved power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell is ascribed to the increased dye adsorption amount and formation of energy barrier between ZnO nanorod and porous TiO2 film.