relation: https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/4036/
title: Performance of TiO2 aggregates-based dye solar cells
creator: Mohamed, N.M.
creator: Zaine, S.N.A.
description: TiO2aggregates-based dye solar cells (DSCs) have gained an increasing interest due to their better light harvesting efficiency as a result of enhanced light scattering effect from the submicron spherical aggregates that can generate more electrons and the high internal surface area for dye chemisorption provided by nanocrystallites which made up the aggregates. Optimized TiO2aggregates (0.45 μm) composing of nanocrystallites (10-40 nm) with desired physicochemical properties for enhanced overall light conversion efficiency of DSC were synthesized by varying the calcination temperature and water content in the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide in ethanol. TiO2aggregates obtained were characterized using FESEM, XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The assembled DSCs were then evaluated using solar simulator under AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm2) simulated sunlight. Nanocrystallites were found to have an increasing size of 12 nm to 36 nm with increasing calcination temperature of 400°C to 600°C. Sample of aggregates calcined at 500°C recorded the highest efficiency (4.456) as the 20-nm nanocrystallites produced is considered to be the optimum size for dye absorption. With higher water content in the hydrolysis process, the aggregates lose their spherical shapes resulting in lower absorption intensity indicating the occurrence of low light scattering in the TiO2film. Highest conversion efficiency was observed for DSC that used welldefined spherical TiO2aggregates composing of 20-nm nanocrystallites which were synthesized using ethanol with low water content (0.9 vol) followed by calcination at 500°C. Thus, optimized TiO2nanocrystallites which form spherical aggregate is critical in order to improve light harvesting efficiency of DSCs. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.
publisher: Trans Tech Publications Ltd
date: 2013
type: Article
type: PeerReviewed
identifier:   Mohamed, N.M. and Zaine, S.N.A.  (2013) Performance of TiO2 aggregates-based dye solar cells.  Materials Science Forum, 737.  pp. 137-144.  ISSN 02555476     
relation: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874103305&doi=10.4028%2fwww.scientific.net%2fMSF.737.137&partnerID=40&md5=0896f56ec884fde3bd97413029cf9feb
relation: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.737.137
identifier: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.737.137