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Electrospinning of Photocatalytic Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: June 28, 2017
A simple recipe for an efficient TiO2 nanofiber-based dye-sensitized solar cell
A Sreekumaran Nair1, Rajan Jose, Yang Shengyuan
1Healthcare and Energy Materials Laboratory, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, National University of Singapore, 117576 Singapore, Singapore. nniansn@nus.edu.sg
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|October 12, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using electrospun titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods. This simple fabrication method offers a cost-effective approach for large-scale solar energy harvesting.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Highly efficient dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are crucial for renewable energy.
- Developing cost-effective fabrication methods for DSSCs is an active global research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a simple fabrication recipe for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells using electrospun TiO2 nanorods.
- To demonstrate the potential of this method for large-scale commercial applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of TiO2 nanorods via electrospinning and Pechini-type sol.
- Doctor-blading and sintering to form a porous TiO2 layer.
- Characterization of DSSC performance, including efficiency and IPCE.
Main Results:
- Achieved a DSSC efficiency of ~4.2% with an active area of ~0.28 cm2.
- Obtained an incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of ~50%.
- Demonstrated lower charge transfer resistance, leading to improved fill factor, without adhesion or scattering layers.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a simple and effective route to fabricate high-performance TiO2 nanorod-based DSSCs.
- Electrospinning offers a cost-effective pathway for mass production, paving the way for commercial solar energy applications.
- This approach simplifies DSSC fabrication, enhancing solar energy harvesting potential.
