Enhanced light scattering and photovoltaic performance for dye-sensitized solar cells by embedding submicron SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles in photoanode

The introduction of light scattering in the photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells is one of the most effective approaches to enhance their photovoltaic performance. In this work, we prepared submicron SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles and embedded these particles in the nanostructured TiO2 photoanodes for light to scatter in the dye-sensitized solar cells. Due to the large difference in the refractive index between the SiO2 core and the TiO2 shell, the embedded submicron SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles showed strong light scattering effect. Light absorbance of the dyed photoanode with the embedded SiO2/TiO2 particles for light scattering was found to be three times stronger than the one without light scattering particles over a wide wavelength range. The power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells was increased by about 50% after the introduction of light scattering SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles in the photoanode. This work will provide a base for further enhancement in the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells by optimizing the submicron SiO2/TiO2 core/shell particles and the photoanodes.