TiO sub(2) nanoparticle/ZnO nanowire hybrid photoanode for enhanced quantum dot-sensitized solar cell performance

A hybrid structured TiO sub(2)/ZnO photoanode was composed of highly ordered ZnO nanowires (NWs) and small TiO sub(2) nanoparticles (NPs) filling the gaps among ZnO NWs. In this way, ZnO NWs provide a direct pathway to facilitate electron collection and transport and increase light scattering and tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:RSC advances 2014-09, Vol.4 (77), p.41141-41147
Main Authors: Deng, Jianping, Wang, Minqiang, Yang, Chengao, Liu, Jing, Song, Xiaohui
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Current density
Density
Devices
Nanostructure
Nanowires
Photovoltaic cells
Quantum dots
Solar cells
Titanium dioxide
Zinc oxide
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Summary:A hybrid structured TiO sub(2)/ZnO photoanode was composed of highly ordered ZnO nanowires (NWs) and small TiO sub(2) nanoparticles (NPs) filling the gaps among ZnO NWs. In this way, ZnO NWs provide a direct pathway to facilitate electron collection and transport and increase light scattering and trapping. TiO sub(2) NPs provide a large specific surface to effectively adsorb quantum dots (QDs). In experiments, the density of ZnO NW arrays was first controlled by regulating the ratio of TiO sub(2) NPs to ZnO NPs and the concentration of ZnO NPs in the hybrid NP seed precursor, and then the TiO sub(2) paste was successfully use to fill the gaps among NWs by a large centrifugal force. Using TiO sub(2) NP/ZnO NW films as photoanodes, we fabricated CdSe QD-sensitized solar cells and tested their photovoltaic (PV) performances. The results demonstrated a remarkably enhanced short-circuit current density (J sub(sc)) of 7.9 mA cm super(-2) and power conversion efficiency ( eta ) of 1.55%, and this eta is enhanced by 19.2% and 30.3%, respectively, compared to those of a TiO sub(2) NP device with an eta of 1.3% and a ZnO NW device with an eta of 1.19%.
ISSN:2046-2069
DOI:10.1039/c4ra05033a