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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Electrospinning of Photocatalytic Electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Published on: June 28, 2017
High-efficiency, solid-state, dye-sensitized solar cells using hierarchically structured TiO₂ nanofibers.
Daesub Hwang1, Seong Mu Jo, Dong Young Kim
1Polymer Hybrids Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 2, 2011
Summary
High-performance solid-state solar cells were created using hierarchically structured titanium dioxide nanofibers and plastic crystal electrolytes. This novel design significantly boosts efficiency and charge stability for better solar energy conversion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer a safer alternative to liquid electrolyte DSSCs.
- Achieving high performance in solid-state DSSCs is challenging due to electrolyte infiltration and ion transport limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop high-performance, room-temperature solid-state DSSCs using hierarchically structured TiO₂ nanofiber (HS-NF) electrodes.
- To investigate the impact of HS-NF morphology on electrolyte infiltration, dye loading, and overall device performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of HS-NF electrodes via electrospinning, creating a unique nanorod-in-nanofiber morphology.
- Characterization of electrode structure, porosity, and surface area.
- Assembly and testing of solid-state DSSCs using HS-NF electrodes and plastic crystal (PC) electrolytes.
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy (IMPS/IMPV) to analyze device parameters.
Main Results:
- HS-NF electrodes exhibited hierarchical porosity (mesopores and macropores), facilitating PC electrolyte infiltration and enhancing dye loading.
- Solid-state DSSCs using HS-NFs (DSSC-NF) showed over a twofold improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to nanoparticle-based DSSCs (DSSC-NP).
- Reduced series resistance (R(s)) and significantly enhanced charge recombination lifetime (τ(r)) (approx. 14 times longer in PC electrolytes) were observed in DSSC-NFs.
- Optimized PCE reached 7.93% at reduced light intensity, with over 40% increased charge collection efficiency.
Conclusions:
- The nanorod-in-nanofiber morphology of HS-NF electrodes is highly effective for room-temperature solid-state DSSCs with PC electrolytes.
- HS-NFs overcome limitations in electrolyte infiltration and ion transport, leading to superior device performance.
- This work presents the best-performing room-temperature solid-state DSSC utilizing a PC electrolyte, highlighting HS-NFs as a promising electrode material.
