Nb2O5 Coating on the Performance of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Based on TiO2 Nanoarrays/Upconversion Luminescence Composite Structure

doi:10.15541/jim20180406

Abstract

Abstract:

By using hydrothermal and spin-coating method, Ti mesh supported composite structure, TiO₂ nanowire arrays/Yb-Er-F doped TiO₂ upconversion luminescence nanoparticles (TNWAs/YEF-TiO₂-UCNPs), was synthesized and assembled into flexible dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The effect of YEF-TiO₂-UCNPs optical property on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of this device was studied. In addition, the influence of NbCl₅ solution coating on morphology and performance of flexible DSSC was also investigated in detail. It is shown that the YEF-TiO₂- UCNPs could expand the range of incident light utilization, in the meantime, however, increase the electron recombination in photoanode. Nb₂O₅ coating layer served as an energy barrier at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface, increased the composite resistance R_rec to inhibit electron recombination, improved the electron collection efficiency η_ec and photogenerated electron lifetime τ_e, then elevated the short circuit current and the open circuit voltage, finally enhanced the performance of DSSC. The Nb₂O₅@TNWAs/YEF-TiO₂-UCNPs composite structured DSSC achieved the best PCE of 6.89% with 20 mmol/L NbCl₅ ethanol solution coating, increased 24.3% compared with the uncoated blank device.

Key words: Nb₂O₅ coating, Yb-Er-F doped TiO₂, upconversion luminescence nanoparticle, composite structure, flexible dye sensitized solar cells

CLC Number:

TB332

Xi-Qing LÜ, Huan-Yu ZHANG, Rui LI, Mei ZHANG, Min GUO. Nb₂O₅ Coating on the Performance of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Based on TiO₂ Nanoarrays/Upconversion Luminescence Composite Structure[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2019, 34(6): 590-598.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 Flow chart of the preparation process of flexible DSSC based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure

Fig. 2 (a) XRD pattern and (b) SEM image of YEF-TiO2-UCNPs; (c) UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra of YEF-TiO2-UCNPs and P25; (d) Upconversion fluorescence spectra of YEF-TiO2-UCNPs and YE-TiO2-UCNPs, under 980 nm excitation

Fig. 3 EDS elemental mapping images of Ti, O, F, Er, and Yb in YEF-TiO2-UCNPs

Fig. 4 (a) Low and (b) high magnification SEM images of Ti mesh supported TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure; (c) J-V curves and photovoltaic properties of DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported TNWAs/P25 and TNWAs/YEF-TiO2- UCNPs composite structures

Fig. 5 XRD patterns of Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure photoanodes prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations

Fig. 6 (a) SEM images of Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations

Fig. 7 J-V curves of DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations

Table 1 Photoelectric properties of DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations

NbCl₅ concentration /(mmol?L^-1)	J_sc/ (mA·cm^-2)	V_oc/V	FF	PCE/%
0	12.81	0.74	0.58	5.54
10	13.20	0.76	0.63	6.29
20	13.72	0.78	0.65	6.89
40	8.80	0.71	0.54	3.40
60	5.32	0.68	0.47	1.69

Fig. 8 UV-Vis absorption spectra of dyes desorbed from corresponding sensitized Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure photoanodes prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations

Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of the energy levels of materials in the DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF- TiO2-UCNPs composite structure

Fig. 10 EIS plots of DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAsYEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations: Nyquist plots of DSSCs under (a) dark and (b) illumination; (c) Bode plots of DSSCs under dark; (d) Equivalent circuit of DSSCs

Table 2 EIS data of DSSCs based on Ti mesh supported Nb2O5@TNWAs/YEF-TiO2-UCNPs composite structure prepared with different NbCl5 concentrations after fitting by equivalent circuit

NbCl₅ concentration /(mmol?L^-1)	R_tr/Ω	R_rec/Ω	η_ec	f_p/Hz	τ_e/ms
0	36.60	101.5	0.73	3.78	42.0
10	24.24	130.2	0.84	3.09	51.3
20	18.25	186.9	0.91	3.06	51.8
40	31.95	89.12	0.73	5.51	28.9
60	34.04	75.56	0.69	6.64	23.9

References 34

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Nb₂O₅ Coating on the Performance of Flexible Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Based on TiO₂ Nanoarrays/Upconversion Luminescence Composite Structure

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