Efficient dye-sensitized solar cells based on CNTs and Zr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

The light scattering, harvesting and adsorption effects in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are studied by preparation of coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with TiO2 and Zr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles in the forms of mono- and double-layer cells. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the phase composition of Zr-doped TiO2 electrode is a mixture of anatase and rutile phases with major rutile content, whereas it is the same mixture with major anatase content for coated CNTs with TiO2. Furthermore, the average crystallite size of Zr-doped TiO2 electrode is slightly decreased with Zr introduction. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images show that the porosity of Zr-doped TiO2 electrodes is higher than that of undoped electrode, enhancing dye adsorption. UV-visible spectroscopy analysis reveals that the absorption onset of Zr-doped TiO2 electrodes is slightly shifted to longer wavelength (the red-shift) in comparison with that of undoped TiO2 electrode. Moreover, the band gap energy of TiO2 nanoparticles is decreased by Zr introduction, enhancing light absorption. It is found that electron injection of monolayer TiO2 electrode is improved by introduction of 0.025 mol% Zr, resulted in enhancement of its power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 6.81% compared with 6.17% for pure TiO2 electrode. Moreover, electron transport and light scattering are enhanced by incorporation of 0.025 wt% coated CNTs with TiO2 in the over-layer of double layer electrode. Therefore, double layer solar cell composed of 0.025 mol% Zr-doped TiO2 nanoparticles as the under-layer and mixtures of these nanoparticles and 0.025 wt% coated CNTs with TiO2 as the over-layer shows the highest PCE of 8.19%. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.