Enhanced efficiency of TIO2 photoanodes modified with WO3−x nanomaterials in dye-sensitized solar cells

Author

Lin, Hsuan-Ching ; Chen, Huei-Siou ; Su, Cherng-Yuh ; Su, Chaochin

Author_Institution

Inst. of Manuf. Tech., Nat. Taipei Univ. of Tech, Taipei, Taiwan

fYear

2009

fDate

7-12 June 2009

Abstract

In the present study, non-stoichiometric tungsten oxide (WO_3-x) nanomaterials synthesized by a modified plasma arc gas condensation technique were added into anatase titanium oxide (a-TiO₂) which was used as photoanode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The WO_3-x/a-TiO₂ sample was characterized by FESEM, XRD, HRTEM, XPS and UV-visible spectra techniques. The photovoltaic efficiency of the DSSC fabricated by WO_3-x/a-TiO₂ was measured under the simulated solar light system with AM1.5 filter. The results showed the enhanced cell performance by incorporation of WO_3-x and the highest efficiency acquired is 6.16 % for DSSC fabricated by 10wt% WO_3-x/TiO₂ sample. The possible explanation for the efficiency enhancement can be attributed to the additive of WO_3-x nanomaterials to form the defects in the WO_3-x/TiO₂ lattices and the imperfect structures of WO₃, accelerating the electron transport rate.

Keywords

X-ray diffraction; X-ray photoelectron spectra; amorphous semiconductors; anodes; arcs (electric); dyes; field emission electron microscopy; nanofabrication; nanostructured materials; photovoltaic effects; plasma materials processing; scanning electron microscopy; semiconductor growth; solar cells; titanium compounds; transmission electron microscopy; tungsten compounds; ultraviolet spectra; visible spectra; DSSC; FESEM; HRTEM; UV-visible spectra; WO_3-x-TiO₂; XPS; XRD; dye-sensitized solar cells; modified plasma arc gas condensation; nonstoichiometric tungsten nanomaterials; photoanodes; photovoltaic efficiency; simulated solar light system; Decision support systems; Filters; Nanomaterials; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Plasma materials processing; Solar power generation; Titanium; Tungsten; X-ray scattering;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2009 34th IEEE

Conference_Location

Philadelphia, PA

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-2949-3

Electronic_ISBN

0160-8371

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411141

Filename

5411141