Herein, the present work focuses on the effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. The bottom–up approach was adapted to synthesize Mn2O3 nanorods via the hydrothermal method and the reduced graphene oxide was merged with Mn2O3 to prepare a nanocomposite. The prepared nanocomposites were subjected to physio-chemical and morphological characterizations which revealed the crystalline nature of Mn2O3 nanorods. The purity level rGO was characterized using the Raman spectrum and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy employed to find the functional groups. The morphological micrographs were visualized using SEM and TEM and the high aspect ratio Mn2O3 nanorods were observed with 5–7 nm and supported by rGO sheets. The electrocatalytic nature and corrosion properties of the counter electrode towards the iodide electrolyte were studied using a symmetrical cell. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were introduced as counter electrodes for DSSC and produced 4.11% of photoconversion efficiency with lower charge transfer resistance. The fabricated DSSC devices were undergone for stability tests for indoor and outdoor atmospheres, the DSSC stability showed 93% and 80% respectively for 150 days.

Flexible dye-sensitized solar cells using binder free TiO2 paste for low temperature sintering are developed. In this paste a small amount of titanium gel is added to a paste of TiO2 nanoparticle. Analysis of titanium gel paste prepared at 150 ℃ shows that it has a pure anatase phase in XRD and mesoporous structure in SEM. The formation of the titanium gel 1- 2 nm coated layer is confirmed by comparing the TEM image analysis of the titanium gel paste and the pristine paste. This coating layer improves the excited electron transfer and electrical contact between particles. The J-V curves of the organic binder DSSCs fabricated at 150℃ shows a current density of 0.12 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage of 0.47 V, while the titanium gel DSSCs improves electrical characteristics to 5.04 mA/cm2 and 0.74 V. As a result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the organic binder DSSC prepared at low temperature is as low as 0.02 %, but the titanium gel paste DSSCs has a measured effciency of 2.76%.

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the TiO2 layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

The cobalt silicides were investigated for employment as a catalytic layer for a DSSC. Using an E-gun evaporation process, we prepared a sample of 100 nm-thick cobalt on a p-type Si (100) wafer. To form cobalt silicides, the samples were annealed at temperatures of 300 oC, 500 oC, and 700 oC for 30 minutes in a vacuum. Four-point probe, XRD, FE-SEM, and CV analyses were used to determine the sheet resistance, phase, microstructure, and catalytic activity of the cobalt silicides. To confirm the corrosion stability, we also checked the microstructure change of the cobalt silicides after dipping into iodide electrolyte. Through the sheet resistance and XRD results, we determined that Co2Si, CoSi, and CoSi2 were formed successfully by annealing at 300 oC, 500 oC, and 700 oC, respectively. The microstructure analysis results showed that all the cobalt silicides were formed uniformly, and CoSi and CoSi2 layers were very stable even after dipping in the iodide electrolyte. The CV result showed that CoSi and CoSi2 exhibit catalytic activities 67 % and 54 % that of Pt. Our results for Co2Si, CoSi, and CoSi2 revealed that CoSi and CoSi2 could be employed as catalyst for a DSSC.

입자 크기가 약 16 및 5 nm인 두 다른 크기의 TiO2 나노입자들과 titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) binder 와 ethanol 용매만으로 제조된 코팅액을 사용하여 130 oC 저온 열처리로 ITO/PEN substrate 위에 메조다공성 TiO2 박막들을 형성하였다. 이들 TiO2/ITO/PEN 박막들을 활용한 유연 염료감응 태양전지들을 제작하여 광변환 특성을 비교 연구하였다. 크기가 다른 두 TiO2 나노입자들을 각각 단독으로 사용하여 제작된 cell들의 경우에 크기가 16 nm 인 TiO2 나노입자 cell이 5 nm인 나노입자 cell에 비해 박막의 porosity가 훨씬 크고 같은 질량에서 표면적이 훨씬 넓어 광변환 효율이 훨씬 높으나 염료 흡착량에 대해 상대적으로 작은 광전류는 입자간의 연결성에 기인되며 큰 입 자에 작은 입자를 10% 정도 혼합한 경우에 표면적 증가와 함께 입자간의 연결성을 강화시켜 큰 입자 단독으로 제작 된 cell에 비해 광변환 효율이 크게 증가됨을 확인하였다.

The organic binder-free paste for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has been investigated using peroxo titanium complex. The crystal structure of TiO2 nanoparticles, morphology of TiO2 film and electrical properties are analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectra (EIS), and solar simulator. The synthesized TiO2 nanopowders by the peroxo titanium complex at 150, 300, 400˚C, and 450˚C have anatase phase and average crystal sizes are calculated to be 4.2, 13.7, 16.9, and 20.9 nm, respectively. The DSSC prepared by the peroxo titanium complex binder have higher Voc and lower Jsc values than that of the organic binder. It can be attributed to improvement of sintering properties of TCO/TiO2 and TiO2/TiO2 interface and to formation of agglomerate by the nanoparticles. As a result, we have investigated the organic binder-free paste and 3.178% conversion efficiency of the DSSC at 450˚C.

Light scattering enhancement is widely used to enhance the optical absorption efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. In this work, we systematically analyzed the effects of spherical voids distributed as light-scattering centers in photoanode films made of an assembly of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Spherical voids in electrode films were formed using a sacrificial template of polystyrene (PS) spheres. The diameter and volume concentration of these spheres was varied to optimize the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. The effects of film thickness on this efficiency was also examined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to study electron transport in the electrodes. The highest power conversion efficiency of 4.07 % was observed with 12μm film thickness. This relatively low optimum thickness of the electrode film is due to the enhanced light absorption caused by the light scattering centers of voids distributed in the film.

본 연구는 염료감응형 태양전지를 이용하여 시간에 따른 일사량과 그에 따른 전력량의 분석을 통해 계절적 변화에 따른 온실 적용 염료감응형 태양전지의 효율에 관한 기초 자료 수집 및 분석을 목표로 하였다. 경상대 학교 소재 온실 근처(위도 35o 9' 9.20" N, 경도 128o 5' 44.90" E, 고도 52m)에 태양전지 어레이를 설치, 2012 년 8월, 10월, 11월, 2013년 2월 약 네 달 동안 태양전 지가 받는 일사량과 그에 따른 전력량을 측정 및 비교, 분석하였다. 10월의 태양전지 패널 면적에 따른 일사량이 약 1,013.03MJ, 발생된 전력량은 약 4.87kWh로 네 달 중 가장 높게 측정되었고, 11월의 패널 면적에 따른 일사량이 약 755.25MJ, 발생 전력량은 약 3.34kWh로 가장 낮게 측정되었다. 염료감응형 태양전지의 평균 효율의 경 우 8월 한 달간, 약 3.12%로 측정되었고, 10월 2.60%, 11월 2.39%, 2월 2.23%로 각각 측정되었다. 본 연구를 통해, 향후 염료감응형 태양전지의 온실 등 농업분야 적 용 시 기초자료로 활용 할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

The hybrid structured photo-electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells was fabricated based on the composites of nanoparticles and nanowires. Three samples with different hybrid structures were prepared with 17 vol%, 43 vol%, and 100 vol% nanowires. The energy conversion efficiency was enhanced from 5.54% for pure nanoparticle cells to 6.01% for the hybrid structure with 17 vol% nanowires. For the hybrid structured layers with high nanowires concentration (43 vol% and 100 vol%), the efficiency decreased with the nanowire concentration, because of the decrease of specific surface area, and of thus decreased current density. The random orientations of nanowires can be preserved by the doctor blade process, resulted in the enhanced efficiency. The hybrid structured layer can possess the advantages of the high surface area of nanoparticles and the rapid electron transport rate and the light scattering effect of nanowires.

염료감응형 태양전지에 사용되기 위한 유기/무기 복합소재를 합성하였다. 다양한 분자량(600, 1,500, 2,000, 3,400)의 polyethylene glycol 양 끝단을 ethoxysilane기로 치환하여 전구체를 제조하였으며, 전구체간의 졸-겔 반응을 통하여 복합소재를 합성하였다. 전해질막은 유기/무기 복합소재를 KI 및 I2로 도핑하여 제조하였으며, 제조한 전해질의 이온전도도 특성을 측정하였다. 전해질막의 이온전도도는 원료로 사용한 PEG에 크게 영향을 받았으며 가장 높은 이온전도도는 분자량 2,000의 PEG를 사용한 전해질막에서 볼 수 있었다. 복합전해질막은 이온전도도에 있어서 큰 향상을 보였다. PEO 전해질막에 비하여 분자량 2,000의 PEG를 사용하여 제조한 복합전해질막은 월등하게 높은 이온전도도를 보였다.

The effect of light scattering layers (400 nm, TiO particle) of 4 m thickness on the dye-sensitized solar cell has been investigated with a 12 m thickness of photo-anode (20 nm, TiO particle). Two different structures of scattering layers (separated and back) were applied to investigate the light transmitting behaviors and solar cell properties. The light transmittance and cell efficiency significantly improved with inserting scattering layers. The back scattering layer structure had more effective transmitting behavior, but separated scattering layer (center: 2 m, back: 2 m) structure (9.83% of efficiency) showing higher efficiency (0.6%), short circuit current density (0.26 mA/cm) and fill factor (0.02). The inserting separating two scattering layers improved the light harvesting, and relatively thin back scattering layer (2 m of thickness) minimized interruption of ion diffusion in liquid electrolyte.

염료감응형 태양전지에 사용되기 위한 유기/무기 복합소재를 합성하였다. 다양한 분자량(400, 600, 1,500, 3,400)의 polyethylene glycol의 양 끝단을 ethoxysilane기로 치환하여 전구체를 제조하였으며, 전구체의 졸-겔 반응을 통하여 복합소재를 합성하였다. 전해질막은 유기/무기 복합소재를 NaI 및 I2로 도핑하여 제조하였으며, 제조한 전해질막의 이온전도 특성을 측정하였다. 전해질막의 이온전도도는 원료로 사용한 PEG에 크게 영향을 받았으며 가장 높은 이온전도도는 분자량 1,500의 PEG를 원료로 사용한 전해질 막에서 볼 수 있었다. 복합전해질막은 전도도에 있어서 큰 향상을 보였다. PEO 전해질막에 비하여 분자량 1,500의 PEC로 제조한 복합전해질막은 월등하게 높은 이온전도도를 보였다.