Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays
The development of high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has received tremendous attention. Many researchers have introduced new materials for use in DSSCs to achieve high efficiency. In this study, the change in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs was investigated by introducing...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/2/328 |
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| author | Kang-Hun Lee Seung-Hee Han Ana Chuquer Hwa-Young Yang Jaehi Kim Xuan-Hung Pham Won-Ju Yun Bong-Hyun Jun Won-Yeop Rho |
| author_facet | Kang-Hun Lee Seung-Hee Han Ana Chuquer Hwa-Young Yang Jaehi Kim Xuan-Hung Pham Won-Ju Yun Bong-Hyun Jun Won-Yeop Rho |
| author_sort | Kang-Hun Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has received tremendous attention. Many researchers have introduced new materials for use in DSSCs to achieve high efficiency. In this study, the change in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs was investigated by introducing two types of materials—Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and a scattering layer. A DSSC fabricated without neither Au NPs nor a scattering layer achieved a PCE of 5.85%. The PCE of a DSSC based on freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays (f-TNTAs) with Au NPs was 6.50% due to better electron generation because the plasmonic absorption band of Au NPs is 530 nm, which matches the dye absorbance. Thus, more electrons were generated at 530 nm, which affected the PCE of the DSSC. The PCE of DSSCs based on f-TNTAs with a scattering layer was 6.61% due to better light harvesting by scattering. The scattering layer reflects all wavelengths of light that improve the light harvesting in the active layer in DSSCs. Finally, the PCE of DSSCs based on the f-TNTAs with Au NPs and a scattering layer was 7.12% due to the synergy of better electron generation and light harvesting by plasmonics and scattering. The application of Au NPs and a scattering layer is a promising research area for DSSCs as they can increase the electron generation and light harvesting ability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:30:41Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:30:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-a05f99ae5a994699891c7cb12c9e189b2023-12-03T14:55:53ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-01-0111232810.3390/nano11020328Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube ArraysKang-Hun Lee0Seung-Hee Han1Ana Chuquer2Hwa-Young Yang3Jaehi Kim4Xuan-Hung Pham5Won-Ju Yun6Bong-Hyun Jun7Won-Yeop Rho8School of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, KoreaSchool of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, KoreaSchool of Bioenvironmental Chemistry, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, KoreaSchool of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, KoreaDepartment of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, KoreaDepartment of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, KoreaDepartment of Physics, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, KoreaDepartment of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, KoreaSchool of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, KoreaThe development of high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has received tremendous attention. Many researchers have introduced new materials for use in DSSCs to achieve high efficiency. In this study, the change in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs was investigated by introducing two types of materials—Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and a scattering layer. A DSSC fabricated without neither Au NPs nor a scattering layer achieved a PCE of 5.85%. The PCE of a DSSC based on freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays (f-TNTAs) with Au NPs was 6.50% due to better electron generation because the plasmonic absorption band of Au NPs is 530 nm, which matches the dye absorbance. Thus, more electrons were generated at 530 nm, which affected the PCE of the DSSC. The PCE of DSSCs based on f-TNTAs with a scattering layer was 6.61% due to better light harvesting by scattering. The scattering layer reflects all wavelengths of light that improve the light harvesting in the active layer in DSSCs. Finally, the PCE of DSSCs based on the f-TNTAs with Au NPs and a scattering layer was 7.12% due to the synergy of better electron generation and light harvesting by plasmonics and scattering. The application of Au NPs and a scattering layer is a promising research area for DSSCs as they can increase the electron generation and light harvesting ability.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/2/328Au nanoparticlesTiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrayselectron generationplasmonic effectscattering layerlight harvesting |
| spellingShingle | Kang-Hun Lee Seung-Hee Han Ana Chuquer Hwa-Young Yang Jaehi Kim Xuan-Hung Pham Won-Ju Yun Bong-Hyun Jun Won-Yeop Rho Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays Nanomaterials Au nanoparticles TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays electron generation plasmonic effect scattering layer light harvesting |
| title | Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays |
| title_full | Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays |
| title_short | Effect of Au Nanoparticles and Scattering Layer in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Freestanding TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays |
| title_sort | effect of au nanoparticles and scattering layer in dye sensitized solar cells based on freestanding tio sub 2 sub nanotube arrays |
| topic | Au nanoparticles TiO<sub>2</sub> nanotube arrays electron generation plasmonic effect scattering layer light harvesting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/2/328 |
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