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Study of How Photoelectrodes Modified by TiO 2 /Ag Nanofibers in Various Structures Enhance the Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells under Low Illumination

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  • Yu-Hsun Nien

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Huang-Hua Chen

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Hui-Hsuan Hsu

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Manjunath Rangasamy

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Geng-Ming Hu

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Zhen-Rong Yong

    (Graduate School of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Po-Yu Kuo

    (Graduate School of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Jung-Chuan Chou

    (Graduate School of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Chih-Hsien Lai

    (Graduate School of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Chu Ko

    (Graduate School of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

  • Jun-Xiang Chang

    (Graduate School of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou 64002, Taiwan)

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are low-cost solar cells belonging to the thin-film photovoltaic cell type. In this study, we studied the photovoltaic performances of DSSCs based on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanofibers (NFs) containing silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) under low illumination. We used the sol-gel method with the electrospinning technique to prepare the TiO 2 NFs containing Ag NPs. Herein, we used two ways to add TiO 2 /Ag NFs to modify the photoelectrode successfully and enhance the performance of DSSCs. One way was that the TiO 2 /Ag NFs were mixed with pristine TiO 2 ; the other way was that the TiO 2 /Ag NFs were seeded beside the TiO 2 colloid layer as an additional layer on the photoelectrode of the DSSC. According to this experiment, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the DSSC which had TiO 2 /Ag NF seeded as an additional layer on the photoelectrode (5.13%) was increased by 28% compared to the DSSC without the photoelectrode modification (3.99%). This was due to the suppression of electron recombination and the more effective utilization of the light radiation by adding the TiO 2 /Ag NFs. Because of the good conductivity of Ag, the electrons were quickly transported and electron recombination was reduced. In addition, the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the DSSC which had TiO 2 /Ag NF seeded as an additional layer on the photoelectrode increased from 5.13% to 6.23% during the decrease in illumination from 100 mW/cm 2 to 30 mW/cm 2 ; however, its photovoltaic conversion efficiency decreased to 5.31% when the illumination was lowered to 10 mW/cm 2 .

Suggested Citation

  • Yu-Hsun Nien & Huang-Hua Chen & Hui-Hsuan Hsu & Manjunath Rangasamy & Geng-Ming Hu & Zhen-Rong Yong & Po-Yu Kuo & Jung-Chuan Chou & Chih-Hsien Lai & Cheng-Chu Ko & Jun-Xiang Chang, 2020. "Study of How Photoelectrodes Modified by TiO 2 /Ag Nanofibers in Various Structures Enhance the Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells under Low Illumination," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:9:p:2248-:d:353777
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sacco, Adriano, 2017. "Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy: Fundamentals and application in dye-sensitized solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 814-829.
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    Cited by:

    1. Devadiga, Dheeraj & Selvakumar, Muthu & Shetty, Prakasha & Santosh, Mysore Sridhar, 2022. "The integration of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells and storage devices towards wearable self-charging power systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

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