Theoretical modeling of TiO sub(2)/TCO interfacial effect on dye-sensitized solar cell performance

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells 2006-08, Vol.90 (13), p.2000-2009
• Main Authors: Ni, M, Leung, MKH, Leung, DYC, Sumathy, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diffusion; Q1; solar cells; Solar energy; Temperature
• ISSN: 0927-0248
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2006.02.005

A theoretical model based on an integration of both Schottky barrier model and electron diffusion differential model was developed to determine the TiO sub(2)/TCO interfacial effect on the current-voltage (J-V) characteristics of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The thermionic-emission theory was appropriately applied to describe the electron transfer at the TiO sub(2)/TCO interface. A parametric analysis was conducted to study how the photoelectric outputs varied with multiple independent variables, such as Schottky barrier height ( phi sub(b)) and temperature. It was found that the variation of the maximum DSSC power output (P sub(max)) was insignificant when phi b varied at a low value; however, an increase in phi b exceeding a critical value caused an apparent decrease in the maximum DSSC power output. The theoretical results were quantitatively compared and agreed very well with published theoretical results. The experimental data from literature were found to agree well with the present theoretical results, qualitatively validating the present model. The theoretical model can be applied to facilitate selection of suitable TCO material in DSSC design to avoid the adverse TiO sub(2)/TCO interfacial effect.