Abstract
We present a novel route to hierarchical core-shell structures consisting of an anodic ZnO nanowire core surrounded by a shell of TiO2 nanosheets (ZNW@TNS). This material combines the beneficial properties of enhanced electron transport, provided by the nanowire core, with the high surface area and chemical stability of the TiO2 shell. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qssDSSCs) are prepared using different quantities of either the bare ZnO nanowires or the hierarchical nanowire structures and the effect on cell performance is examined. It is found that whilst the addition of the bare ZnO nanowires results in a decrease in cell performance, significant improvements can be achieved with the addition of small quantities of the hierarchical structures. Power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.5% are achieved under 1 Sun, AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, with a ∼30% increase compared to non-hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 films. A solid-state DSSC (ssDSSC) with a single component solid polymer also exhibits excellent efficiency of 7.2%. The improvement in cell performance is related to the improved light scattering, surface area and electron transport properties via the use of reflectance spectroscopy, BET surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 365-374 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Power Sources |
| Volume | 325 |
| Early online date | 17 Jun 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2016 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Core-shell
- Dye-sensitized solar cells
- Graft copolymer
- Solid-state electrolyte
- TiO nanosheet
- ZnO nanowire
Cite this
Hierarchical growth of TiO2 nanosheets on anodic ZnO nanowires for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. / Miles, David O.; Lee, Chang Soo; Cameron, Petra J.; Mattia, Davide; Kim, Jong Hak.
In: Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 325, 01.09.2016, p. 365-374.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hierarchical growth of TiO2 nanosheets on anodic ZnO nanowires for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells
AU - Miles, David O.
AU - Lee, Chang Soo
AU - Cameron, Petra J.
AU - Mattia, Davide
AU - Kim, Jong Hak
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - We present a novel route to hierarchical core-shell structures consisting of an anodic ZnO nanowire core surrounded by a shell of TiO2 nanosheets (ZNW@TNS). This material combines the beneficial properties of enhanced electron transport, provided by the nanowire core, with the high surface area and chemical stability of the TiO2 shell. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qssDSSCs) are prepared using different quantities of either the bare ZnO nanowires or the hierarchical nanowire structures and the effect on cell performance is examined. It is found that whilst the addition of the bare ZnO nanowires results in a decrease in cell performance, significant improvements can be achieved with the addition of small quantities of the hierarchical structures. Power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.5% are achieved under 1 Sun, AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, with a ∼30% increase compared to non-hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 films. A solid-state DSSC (ssDSSC) with a single component solid polymer also exhibits excellent efficiency of 7.2%. The improvement in cell performance is related to the improved light scattering, surface area and electron transport properties via the use of reflectance spectroscopy, BET surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
AB - We present a novel route to hierarchical core-shell structures consisting of an anodic ZnO nanowire core surrounded by a shell of TiO2 nanosheets (ZNW@TNS). This material combines the beneficial properties of enhanced electron transport, provided by the nanowire core, with the high surface area and chemical stability of the TiO2 shell. Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (qssDSSCs) are prepared using different quantities of either the bare ZnO nanowires or the hierarchical nanowire structures and the effect on cell performance is examined. It is found that whilst the addition of the bare ZnO nanowires results in a decrease in cell performance, significant improvements can be achieved with the addition of small quantities of the hierarchical structures. Power conversion efficiencies of up to 7.5% are achieved under 1 Sun, AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, with a ∼30% increase compared to non-hierarchical mesoporous TiO2 films. A solid-state DSSC (ssDSSC) with a single component solid polymer also exhibits excellent efficiency of 7.2%. The improvement in cell performance is related to the improved light scattering, surface area and electron transport properties via the use of reflectance spectroscopy, BET surface area measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
KW - Core-shell
KW - Dye-sensitized solar cells
KW - Graft copolymer
KW - Solid-state electrolyte
KW - TiO nanosheet
KW - ZnO nanowire
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84990040824&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.033
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.033
DO - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.06.033
M3 - Article
VL - 325
SP - 365
EP - 374
JO - Journal of Power Sources
JF - Journal of Power Sources
SN - 0378-7753
ER -