High light-to-energy conversion efficiencies for solar cells based on nanostructured ZnO electrodes

• Photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured ZnO thin film electrodes have been investigated in the UV and visible regions. For films consisting of 15 nm large undoped crystallites a maximum monochromatic current conversion efficiency of 58% was obtained in the visible using a ruthenium-based dye as a sensitizer. The overall solar energy conversion efficiency for this film was 2%. In comparison, sensitized films consisting of 150 nm large Al-doped crystallites yield a monochromatic current conversion efficiency of 31% and an overall solar energy conversion efficiency of 0.5%. The study also shows that nanostructured ZnO may give high efficiencies in the UV region, approaching unity for the Al-doped films.

Nyckelord

Colloidal TIO2 Films

Photoelectrochemical Cells

Nanocrystalline

Sensitization

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