Optimizing Deposition Parameters of DSSCs Composed of Blue TiO2

Here, a simple deposition process is developed to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) covering a titanium dioxide (TiO2) compact layer successfully produced by either soaking into a blue titania solution or by spin coating method. The components of photoanode of the devices were sintered at 500 degrees C with/without employing a preheating treatment. The effects of the method to obtain the compact layer and preheating treatment on the optical and electrical properties of the devices were examined by means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, current-voltage measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results suggested that these experimental conditions have a vital role in determining photoelectric conversion performance of the devices. Accordingly, considerably improved power conversion efficiency of 4.54% was found in case of employing a compact layer soaked into the solution and preheated, which is exceptionally greater than that of the power conversion efficiency of 0.35% of the device having a spin-coated compact layer and continuous coating of the mesoporous layer without preheating. A significant increase in the efficiency has been accomplished due to the improved electron lifetime. These results demonstrated the critical importance of deposition conditions to evolve the performance of DSSCs.

Automated summary

A simple deposition process was developed to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with significantly improved power conversion efficiency by soaking the compact layer in a solution and preheating it. These results highlight the critical importance of deposition conditions for enhancing the performance of DSSCs.