Dye sensitized solar cells based on titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis and hydrothermal sol-gel methods: a comparative study on photovoltaic performances

Abstract

Synthesis methods, shape and size of the nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2) are very crucial parameters for the power conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells. In this article, nanoparticles of TiO2 powders have been synthesized via flame spray pyrolysis and hydrothermal sol-gel methods. These powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In particular, the photovoltaic performances of the dye sensitized solar cells based on TiO2 synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis and hydrothermal sol-gel method have been compared. A commercial dye, N719 and a platinum doped counter electrode have been used for fabricating cells. Furthermore, a standard dye sensitized solar cell device has been fabricated by using a commercial Titania electrode in order to use as a reference cell. As a result, power conversion efficiencies of solar cells (under standard conditions, AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm−2) have been calculated as 2.44, 3.94, and 7.67 % with TiO2 synthesized via flame spray pyrolysis method, hydrothermal sol-gel method and reference Titania electrode, respectively. Keywords: Flame spray pyrolysis, Sol gel, Hydrothermal method, Dye sensitized solar cells.