Enhanced performance of dye-sensitized solar cell with thermally-treated TiN in its TiO2 film prepared at low temperature
Journal
Journal of Power Sources
Journal Volume
196
Journal Issue
3
Pages
1632-1638
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Various weight percentages of titanium nitride (TiN) and thermally-treated titanium nitride (tt-TiN) are incorporated into the binder-free TiO2 films, prepared at low temperature (LT, 120 °C), and the corresponding dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are made. Effects of their incorporation on the photovoltaics of the DSSCs are studied. With the incorporation of 0.125 wt% of TiN in a TiO2 film of only 5.5 μm-thickness, the corresponding solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency (η) has reached to 3.40% from 2.38% of a cell with a bare TiO2 film of same thickness; this increase in efficiency is attributed to the higher electron conductivity and longer electron life time in the TiO2 film with TiN. Incorporation of 1.0 wt% of tt-TiN into the TiO2 film has further improved the conversion efficiency to 3.77%; this further enhancement in the efficiency is attributed to the partial conversion of TiN into TiO2 due to the thermal treatment (450 °C). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to study the partial conversion of TiN into TiO 2. Other explanations are supported by the data of UV-absorption spectra, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and laser-induced photo-voltage transients. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.
Subjects
Binder-free titanium dioxide; Dye-sensitized solar cell; Electron lifetime; Low temperature process; Thermally-treated titanium nitride
SDGs
Other Subjects
Dye-sensitized solar cell; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Electron conductivity; Electron lifetime; Enhanced performance; Laser induced; Life-times; Low temperatures; Low-temperature process; Photo-voltage; Photovoltaics; SEM; Thermal treatment; Thermally-treated titanium nitride; TiO; Weight percentages; Absorption spectroscopy; Binders; Conversion efficiency; Electrochemical corrosion; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrons; Film preparation; Oxides; Photoelectrochemical cells; Scanning electron microscopy; Solar cells; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Transients; X ray diffraction; Titanium nitride
Type
journal article