Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Facile preparation of a Nb2O5 blocking layer for dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Published:
Journal of Electroceramics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The introduction of a niobium oxide layer between fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and TiO2 electrodes is known to enhance the power conversion efficiency (η) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Nb thin films were deposited on FTO glass substrates using RF magnetron sputtering. TiO2 pastes were then screen-printed onto the Nb thin films. The multilayered structures were annealed at 500 °C in a muffle furnace and assembled with Pt counter electrodes for DSSC performance evaluation. The Nb thin films were oxidized during the calcination process, producing a post-oxidized layer that increased the solar-cell efficiency by about 15 % and the photocurrent density by approximately 25 %.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. Jose, V. Thavasi, S. Ramakrishna, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 92, 289 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Hagfeldt, G. Boschloo, L. Sun, L. Kloo, H. Petterson, Chem. Rev. 110, 6595 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. B.E. Hardin, H.J. Snaith, M.D. McGehee, Nat. Photonics 6, 163 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. B.A. Gregg, Coord. Chem. Rev. 248, 1215 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Xia, S. Yanagida, Sol. Energy 85, 3143 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. P.J. Cameron, L.M. Peter, S. Hore, J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 930 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. P.J. Cameron, L.M. Peter, J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 7392 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J.H. Yum, S. Nakade, D.Y. Kim, S. Yanagida, J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 3215 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Xia, N. Masaki, K. Jiang, S. Yanagida, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 188, 120 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Xia, N. Masaki, K. Jiang, S. Yanagida, Chem. Commun. 138 (2007)

  11. J. Xia, N. Masaki, K. Jiang, S. Yanagida, J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 8092 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. T.Y. Cho, K.W. Ko, S.G. Yoo, S.S. Sekhon, M.G. Kang, Y.S. Hong, C.H. Han, Curr. Appl. Phys. 13, 1391 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. G. Agarwal, G.B. Reddy, J. Mater. Sci. Eng. 16, 21 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  14. J. Hong, Y. Lee, G.A.T. Chansin, J.B. Edel, A.J. deMello, Nanotechnology 19, 165205 (2008). 8pp

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H.H. Afify, R.S. Momtaz, W.A. Badawy, S.A. Nasser, J. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2, 40 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  16. F. Gu, S.F. Wang, M.K. Lü, G.J. Zhou, D. Xu, D.R. Yuan, J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 8119 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. K. Sayama, H. Sugihara, H. Arakawa, Chem. Mater. 10, 3825 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Scholarship Grants in 2012, the Basic Science Research Program (2013-026989) through the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (MSIP) of Korea.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea

    Sung-Hwan Lim, Kwang-Won Park, Ming Hao Jin, Sungwoo Ahn, Jeemin Song & Jongin Hong

Authors
  1. Sung-Hwan Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kwang-Won Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ming Hao Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sungwoo Ahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jeemin Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jongin Hong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jongin Hong.

Additional information

Sung-Hwan Lim and Kwang-Won Park have equal contribution to this article

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lim, SH., Park, KW., Jin, M.H. et al. Facile preparation of a Nb2O5 blocking layer for dye-sensitized solar cells. J Electroceram 34, 221–227 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-014-9977-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10832-014-9977-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation