Preparation of Flexible Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Based on Hierarchical Structure ZnO Nanosheets

doi:10.15541/jim20170325

Abstract

Abstract:

ZnO nanosheets/nanoparticles/microspheres composite photoanodes were synthesized in two steps. ZnO nanosheets photoanodes on Ti foil substrates were first prepared with hydrothermal synthesis method, on which ZnO nanoparticles and microspheres were deposited by using chemical bath deposition method. The corresponding photoanodes were assembled into flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (FDSSCs). Effect of Ti foil substrates pretreatment methods and chemical bath deposition process on the properties of ZnO thin films and devices were mainly studied. Phase composition and morphology of Ti foil substrates and ZnO films were characterized with XRD, SEM and TEM. J-V curves of the FDSSCs were tested by solar simulator and Keithley 2400. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was also carried out to analyze the internal electronic transmission. The results show that when the Ti foil substrates were treated by using acid polishing, and the ZnO nanosheets were modified for 5 h by immersing in 0.15 mol/L methanol solution of zinc acetate after preheat treatment for 24 h, the FDSSCs displayed optimum performance. Its short circuit current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor and photoelectric conversion efficiency were 11.26 mA/cm², 0.67 V, 0.60 and 4.51%, respectively.

Key words: flexible dye-sensitized solar cells, ZnO nanosheets, composite structure ZnO photoanode, performance

CLC Number:

TQ174

CHENG Hou-Yan, LUO Jun, HUANG Li-Qun, LI Jia-Ke, YANG Zhi-Sheng, GUO Ping-Chun, WANG Yan-Xiang, ZHANG Qi-Feng. Preparation of Flexible Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Based on Hierarchical Structure ZnO Nanosheets[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2018, 33(5): 507-514.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of pristine Ti foil substrate, acid polished and acid+H2O2 treated Ti foil substrate

Fig. 2 Surface SEM images of (a) pristine Ti foil substrate, (b) acid polished Ti foil substrate and (c) acid+H2O2 treated Ti foil substrate

Fig. 3 SEM images of A-FDSSCs and AH-FDSSCs(a) Cross view of A-FDSSCs; (b) Top view of A-FDSSCs; (c) Cross view of AH-FDSSCs; (d) Top view of AH-FDSSCs

Fig. 4 J-V curves of A-FDSSCs and AH-FDSSCs

Table 1 Photoelectric performance parameters of A-FDSSCs and AH-FDSSCs

Samples	V_oc/V	J_sc/(mA∙cm^-2)	FF	PCE/%
A-FDSSCs	0.67	7.46	0.64	3.20
AH-FDSSCs	0.69	3.79	0.46	1.20

Fig. 5 SEM images of ZnO films (a) The cross view of ZnO NSs; (b) and (c) The top view of ZnO NSs; (d) The cross view of ZnO NSs/NPs/MSs-1; (e) and (f) The top view of ZnO NSs/NPs/MSs-1; (g) The cross view of ZnO NSs/NPs/MSs-2; (h) and (i) The top view of ZnO NSs/NPs/MSs-2

Fig. 6 TEM image (a) and HRTEM image (b) of ZnO NSs/ NPs/MSs-2

Fig. 7 J-V curves of A-FDSSCs, 1-FDSSCs and 2-FDSSCs

Fig. 8 The Nyquist plots (a) and corresponding Bode plots (b) of A-FDSSCs, 1-FDSSCs and 2-FDSSCs

Table 2 Photoelectric performance of A-FDSSCs, 1-FDSSCs and 2-FDSSCs

Samples	V_oc/V	J_sc/(mA∙cm^-2)	FF	PCE/%	R₂/Ω	τ_n/ms
A-FDSScs	0.67	7.46	0.64	3.20	277.2	8.60
1-FDSSCs	0.67	11.14	0.60	4.45	371.7	11.70
2-FDSSCs	0.67	11.26	0.60	4.51	547.4	12.30

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