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Investigation of Photovoltaic Performance of Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Using Tin (IV) Oxide in Different Morphologies as Semiconductor
Pham, Bach
Pham, Bach
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Date
2019
Additional date(s)
2019-12-18
Abstract
The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a possible alternative tool to harvest solar energy instead of the traditional silicon-based solar cells. DSSCs offer various advantages, such as good energy conversion efficiencies in low-light condition, simple fabrication, low cost, and the ability to modify key properties of the solar cell such as the absorbance wavelengths. We are interested in developing new types of semiconductor supports for use in DSSCs based on tin(IV) oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Compared with the more widely used titanium dioxide, tin(IV) oxide offers a wider band gap and higher electron mobility, which increase the photostability of the cell and minimize electron energy loss during transport. In this study, two morphologies of tin(IV) oxide, spherical and flower-like NPs, are synthesized. These two types of tin(IV) oxide NPs and mixtures of both at various ratios are used to fabricate DSSCs. We find that nanoflowers usually give the cells higher open circuit voltages but with lower photocurrent. Nanospheres give much higher photocurrent but with lower open circuit voltage. A mixture that has a 2:1 molar ratio of nanoflowers and nanospheres gave the best performance in terms of photocurrent and voltage. Moreover, this project also investigates possible modification of the tin(IV) oxide-based DSSCs which could potentially increase the performance of the solar cells even further. Two approaches are the introduction of a blocking layer on the FTO glass underneath the semiconducting material and the deposition of a titanium oxide coating directly on the tin(IV) oxide semiconducting layer of the solar cells. Both approaches show significant improvement in photovoltaic performance. Together with the encouraging results from the mixture of the tin(IV) oxide nanospherical particles and nanoflowers as semiconducting materials for DSSCs, these approaches are promising in the optimization of DSSCs in the future.
Contents
Subject
Solar Cell
Solar Energy
Semiconductor
Tin Oxide
Solar Energy
Semiconductor
Tin Oxide
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Research Projects
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Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry