The influence of 1D, meso- and crystal structures on charge transport and recombination in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Docampo, P. et al. (2013) The influence of 1D, meso- and crystal structures on charge transport and recombination in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 1(39), pp. 12088-12095. (doi: 10.1039/C3TA11855J)

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Abstract

We have prepared single crystalline SnO2 and ZnO nanowires and polycrystalline TiO2 nanotubes (1D networks) as well as nanoparticle-based films (3D networks) from the same materials to be used as photoanodes for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. In general, superior photovoltaic performance can be achieved from devices based on 3-dimensional networks, mostly due to their higher short circuit currents. To further characterize the fabricated devices, the electronic properties of the different networks were measured via the transient photocurrent and photovoltage decay techniques. Nanowire-based devices exhibit extremely high, light independent electron transport rates while recombination dynamics remain unchanged. This indicates, contrary to expectations, a decoupling of transport and recombination dynamics. For typical nanoparticle-based photoanodes, the devices are usually considered electron-limited due to the poor electron transport through nanocrystalline titania networks. In the case of the nanowire-based devices, the system becomes limited by the organic hole transporter used. In the case of polycrystalline TiO2 nanotube-based devices, we observe lower transport rates and higher recombination dynamics than their nanoparticle-based counterparts, suggesting that in order to improve the electron transport properties of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, single crystalline structures should be used. These findings should aid future design of photoanodes based on nanowires or porous semiconductors with extended crystallinity to be used in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Docampo, Dr Pablo
Authors: Docampo, P., Ivaturi, A., Gunning, R., Diefenbach, S., Kirkpatrick, J., Palumbiny, C. M., Sivaram, V., Geaney, H., Schmidt-Mende, L., Welland, M. E., and Snaith, H. J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Publisher:Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:2050-7488
ISSN (Online):2050-7496
Published Online:14 August 2013

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