Dye-sensitized solar cells employing a SnO2-TiO2 core-shell structure made by atomic layer deposition

• This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of core-shell structures, based on a SnO2 and TiO2 for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). Atomic layer deposition is employed to control and vary the thickness of the TiO2 shell. Increasing the TiO2 shell thickness to 2 nm improves the device performance of liquid electrolyte DSC from 0.7 % to 3.5 %. The increase in efficiency originates from a higher open-circuit potential and a higher short-circuit current as well as an improvement in the electron lifetime. SnO2-TiO2 core-shell DSC devices retain their photo-voltage in darkness for longer than 500 seconds showing that electrons are contained in the core material. Finally core-shell structures were used for solid-state DSC applications using the hole transporting material 2,2’,7,7’,-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9’,-spirofluorene. Similar increases in devices performance are seen for these solid-state DSC devices.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

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ref (subject category)

art (subject category)