Fabrication of high performance dye-sensitized solar cells using exceptional light scattering materials based on CeTiO۴/mesoporous silica nanocomposites

Transparent TiO۲ layer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) allows majority of incident light to pass through the device. To harvest extra sunlight, TiO۲ films were coated with light scattering layers including pure CeTiO۴, mesoporous SiO۲, and (۲۰-۸۰ wt.%) SiO۲: CeTiO۴ nanocomposites. Comprehensive studies were accomplished using various analysis techniques. Photovoltaic results illustrated that TiO۲/۲۰wt% SiO۲+۸۰wt% CeTiO۴ based DSSC achieved the highest PCE of ۸.۰۳% with fill factor (FF), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of ۰.۴۴, ۰.۷۵۵ V, and ۲۴.۰۱ mA/cm², respectively, yielding ۹۷.۳% greater PCE than TiO۲ based DSSC (PCE= ۴.۰۷%, Jsc= ۱۴.۱۳, Voc= ۰.۷۲۵ V, FF= ۰.۴۰). The champion ۲۰wt% SiO۲+۸۰wt% CeTiO۴ composite consisted of amorphous SiO۲ particles with high light reflectance in addition to large agglomerated CeTiO۴ particles with proper photovoltaic properties that enabled prolonged light path, according to the Mie theory, which excited more dye molecules and enhanced photocurrent density. Additionally, SiO۲ behaved as an energy barrier and physical separator, delaying photogenerated electron recombination with oxidized dye and electrolyte species as long as possible and facilitating charge transfer, leading to an enormous rise in efficiency.

کلیدواژه ها:

Light scattering materials ، Photovoltaic devices ، Open-circuit voltage ، Dye loading