Processing and Application of Ceramics (Dec 2018)

Mesoporous TiO2 spheres as a photoanodic material in dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Nikola Tasić,
  • Zorica Marinković Stanojević,
  • Zorica Branković,
  • Milan Žunić,
  • Uroš Lačnjevac,
  • Martina Gilić,
  • Tatjana Novaković,
  • Goran Branković

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2298/PAC1804374T
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 4
pp. 374 – 382

Abstract

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Mesoporous TiO2 films with spherical architectures and promising performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were prepared. The morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the spheres disclosed the elongated shape of sub-20 nm primary particles, while BET analysis revealed their high surface area of 135 m2/g. Anatase presence was observed in the films based on X-ray diffractometry, selected-area electron diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy analyses. Increased light scattering of the spheres in visible region was observed by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. Photovoltaic performance of the operating N719-sensitized cells was tested using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current density-voltage (J-V) curves under simulated AM1.5 spectrum. The 0.25 cm2 cells exhibited photo-to-electric power efficiency of 4.9%, which is among noteworthy values for DSSCs with similar photoanodic structures.

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