Preparation and photoelectric properties of Zn2SnO4/TiO2 composite film electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

The Zn₂SnO₄ with uniform particle size was prepared by hydrothermal method at a low-temperature of 180°C, and then Zn₂SnO₄/TiO₂ composite films were facilely fabricated by doping Zn₂SnO₄ nanoparticles into titania powders and their photoelectric properties were also investigated in the assembled DSSCs. Analysis results revealed that TiO₂ composite films doped with Zn₂SnO₄ nanoparticles could effectively improve the open voltage. When the doping amount of Zn₂SnO₄ was 3%, dye-sensitized solar cells based on the composite electrode gained short-circuit current density of 3.40 mA·cm^-2, open-circuit photovoltage of 0.884 V, fill factor of 0.752, and overall conversion efficiency of 2.82%.