Improving pore filling of gel electrolyte and charge transport in photoanode for high-efficiency quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Sep 11;5(17):8289-93. doi: 10.1021/am402856z. Epub 2013 Aug 29.

Abstract

We demonstrate the enhancement of pore-filling and wettability of gel electrolyte in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by developing a kinetically driven electrolyte infiltration approach, in which the air purging provides the driving force. This method renders fast electrolyte diffusion throughout the three-dimensional TiO2 nanoparticle network, promising for large-area device fabrication. In addition, for the first time we incorporate multiwalled carbon nanotubes into the anode of quasi-solid-state DSSCs to improve the charge transfer efficiency and fill factor. These advancements finally generate an efficiency exceeding 7.0%, much higher than the device efficiency of 5.5% fabricated by the conventional method.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Dielectric Spectroscopy
  • Electrodes
  • Electrolytes / chemistry*
  • Gels / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Solar Energy*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Electrolytes
  • Gels
  • Nanotubes, Carbon