Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics (HOPV14)
Publication date: 1st March 2014
ZnO is an interesting material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DCSs) related to the large variety of low-temperature synthesis methods that allow for easy manipulation of the morphology and texture of the material. We have used three methods to prepare ZnO photoanodes: (i) sol-gel precipitation of nanoparticles; (ii) electrodeposition at room temperature; and (iii) low temperature plasma-enhanced CVD of nanocolumnar structures. Using these materials, we have investigated the influence of dye chemistry on the solar cell performance. In addition, we have compared the electron transport and recombination properties of nanocolumnar and nanoparticulate films using small-signal perturbation techniques. The effect of redox couple in electrodeposited ZnO-based solar cells was investigated using the Co(bpy)3-based redox couple.
The interaction of the dye solution with the ZnO electrode is essential for high-efficiency ZnO-based solar cells, which have generally remained elusive [1]. This is in part related to the acidity of the dye solution, and when using traditional dyes such as N-719, ZnO dissolves forming aggregates with dye molecules. However, even optimizing sensitization time and/or using the addition of water to the solution does not lead to optimal dye coverage and high collection efficiency. We have designed a perylene dye with an anhydride bonding site and compared its performance to N719, illustrating the effect of acidity [2].
The electron transport properties of two different kinds of dye-sensitized ZnO nanostructures have been investigated by small-signal perturbation techniques. For nanoparticulate ZnO photoanodes prepared via a wet-chemistry technique [3], the electron diffusion coefficient is found to reproduce typical behavior predicted by the multiple-trapping and the hopping models, with an exponential increase with respect to applied bias. In contrast, in ZnO nanostructured thin films of controlled texture and crystallinity prepared via a plasma chemical vapor deposition method [4], the diffusion coefficient is found to be independent of electrochemical bias, suggesting a different transport mechanism. In spite of the different transport features, the recombination kinetics, the electron collection efficiency and the photoconversion efficiency were very similar for both photoanodes [4].
The reports of efficiency records for TiO2-based DSCs using new Co-complexes as mediators are significantly impacting research on new materials [5]. We report on the use of these novel redox couples in DSCs based on electrodeposited ZnO photoanodes, illustrating the clear competition between faster recombination kinetics and larger thermodynamically achievable open circuit potentials.
1. J.A. Anta, E. Guillén, R. Tena-Zaera, J. Phys. Chem. C 116, 11413-11425 (2012). 2. N.M. Gómez-Ortíz, J. Idígoras, E. Guillén, A. Hernández, A. Sastre-Santos, F. Fernández-Lázaro, J.A. Anta, G. Oskam, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chem. 2013, 264, 26–33. 3. A.G. Vega-Poot, G. Rodríguez-Gattorno, O.E. Soberanis-Domínguez, R.T. Patiño-Díaz, M. Espinosa-Pesqueira and G. Oskam, Nanoscale 2010, 2, 2710–2717. 4. A.G. Vega-Poot, M. Macías-Montero, J. A. Idígoras-León, A. Borrás, A. Barranco, A. R. Gonzalez- Elipe, F. I. Lizama-Tzec, G. Oskam and J. A. Anta, Subm. to ChemPhysChem (2013). 5. A. Yella, H. W. Lee, H. N. Tsao, C. Yi, A. K. Chandiran, Md. K. Nazeeruddin, E. Wei-Guang Diau, Chen-Yu Yeh, S. M. Zakeeruddin, M. Grätzel, Science 2011, 334, 629.
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International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics
International Conference on Hybrid and Organic Photovoltaics (HOPV) is celebrated yearly in May. The main topics are the development, function and modeling of materials and devices for hybrid and organic solar cells. The field is now dominated by perovskite solar cells but also other hybrid technologies, as organic solar cells, quantum dot solar cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells and their integration into devices for photoelectrochemical solar fuel production.
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