Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes

In order to improve the photoenergy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), it is important to optimize their porous TiO2 electrodes. This paper examines the surface and cross-sectional views of the electrodes using scanning electron micrography. Two types of samples for cross-s...

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Main Authors: Seigo Ito, Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Peter Péchy, Pascal Comte, Michael Grätzel, Takaki Mizuno, Atsushi Tanaka, Tsuguo Koyanagi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/517609
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author Seigo Ito
Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin
Shaik M. Zakeeruddin
Peter Péchy
Pascal Comte
Michael Grätzel
Takaki Mizuno
Atsushi Tanaka
Tsuguo Koyanagi
author_facet Seigo Ito
Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin
Shaik M. Zakeeruddin
Peter Péchy
Pascal Comte
Michael Grätzel
Takaki Mizuno
Atsushi Tanaka
Tsuguo Koyanagi
author_sort Seigo Ito
collection DOAJ
description In order to improve the photoenergy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), it is important to optimize their porous TiO2 electrodes. This paper examines the surface and cross-sectional views of the electrodes using scanning electron micrography. Two types of samples for cross-sectional viewing were prepared by mechanically breaking the substrate and by using an Ar-ion etching beam. The former displays the surface of the TiO2 particles and the latter shows the cross-section of the TiO2 particles. We found interesting surface and cross-sectional structures in the scattering layer containing the 400 nm diameter particles, which have an angular and horned shape. The influence of TiO2 particle size and the thickness of the nanocrystalline-TiO2 electrode in DSCs using four kinds of sensitizing dyes (D149, K19, N719 and Z907) and two kinds of electrolytes (acetonitrile-based and ionic-liquid electrolytes) are discussed in regards to conversion efficiency, which this paper aims to optimize.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1110-662X
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language English
publishDate 2009-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-1e49f3b4bd8e4487936c6e5d80937b532025-08-20T03:54:57ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2009-01-01200910.1155/2009/517609517609Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 ElectrodesSeigo Ito0Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin1Shaik M. Zakeeruddin2Peter Péchy3Pascal Comte4Michael Grätzel5Takaki Mizuno6Atsushi Tanaka7Tsuguo Koyanagi8Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Hyogo, 2167 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2280, JapanLaboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandLaboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandLaboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandLaboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandLaboratoire de Photonique et Interfaces, Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandNew Business Research Center, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., 13-2 Kitaminato-Machi, Wakamatsu-Ku, Kitakyuushu, Fukuoka 808-0027, JapanNew Business Research Center, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., 13-2 Kitaminato-Machi, Wakamatsu-Ku, Kitakyuushu, Fukuoka 808-0027, JapanNew Business Research Center, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., 13-2 Kitaminato-Machi, Wakamatsu-Ku, Kitakyuushu, Fukuoka 808-0027, JapanIn order to improve the photoenergy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), it is important to optimize their porous TiO2 electrodes. This paper examines the surface and cross-sectional views of the electrodes using scanning electron micrography. Two types of samples for cross-sectional viewing were prepared by mechanically breaking the substrate and by using an Ar-ion etching beam. The former displays the surface of the TiO2 particles and the latter shows the cross-section of the TiO2 particles. We found interesting surface and cross-sectional structures in the scattering layer containing the 400 nm diameter particles, which have an angular and horned shape. The influence of TiO2 particle size and the thickness of the nanocrystalline-TiO2 electrode in DSCs using four kinds of sensitizing dyes (D149, K19, N719 and Z907) and two kinds of electrolytes (acetonitrile-based and ionic-liquid electrolytes) are discussed in regards to conversion efficiency, which this paper aims to optimize.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/517609
spellingShingle Seigo Ito
Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin
Shaik M. Zakeeruddin
Peter Péchy
Pascal Comte
Michael Grätzel
Takaki Mizuno
Atsushi Tanaka
Tsuguo Koyanagi
Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
title_full Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
title_fullStr Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
title_full_unstemmed Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
title_short Study of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Scanning Electron Micrograph Observation and Thickness Optimization of Porous TiO2 Electrodes
title_sort study of dye sensitized solar cells by scanning electron micrograph observation and thickness optimization of porous tio2 electrodes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/517609
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