Dye-sensitized solar cells containing plasma jet deposited hierarchically nanostructured TiO2 thin photoanodes†
Vanira Trifiletti,Riccardo Ruffo,Christian Turrini,Dario Tassetti,Rosaria Brescia,Fabio Di Fonzo,Claudia Riccardi,Alessandro Abbotto
Journal of Materials Chemistry A Pub Date : 07/22/2013 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C3TA11485F
Abstract

The investigation of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) using a very thin (0.8 to 4.7 μm) transparent photoanode based on a hierarchically nanostructured TiO2 film prepared via Plasma Assisted Supersonic Jet Deposition (PA-SJD), in combination with the DSC benchmark photosensitizer N719, is presented. The cell photovoltages (nearly 0.8 V) and the amount of adsorbed dye and photocurrent densities, normalized over the film thickness, are higher than those of DSCs prepared with thicker (9 μm) conventional screen-printed TiO2 films. A record efficiency value of 5.7% (standard AM 1.5G solar irradiation) for very thin nanostructured titania photoanodes is obtained with a 2 μm PA-SJD TiO2 film. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that PA-SJD devices are endowed with higher charge recombination resistance (lower recombination losses) and electron lifetimes compared to conventional nanocrystalline films.

Graphical abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells containing plasma jet deposited hierarchically nanostructured TiO2 thin photoanodes