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The synthesis and application of TiO2 microspheres as scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cells

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Abstract

Mesoporous TiO2 microspheres have been synthesized via a simple one-plot hydrothermal method and were used as the light scattering layer on top of the P25 TiO2 compact layer to form a double-layer film based photoanode for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Characteristics and light scattering properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption analysis and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Photovoltaic performance of the fabricated DSSC was also investigated. It showed that photoelectric conversion efficiency of the double-layer film based DSSC was increased to 5.61% compared with single P25 compact layer film based (2.67%) and single TiO2 microspheres layer film based (2.14%) DSSC. Improvement of DSSC performance can be attributed to excellent light scattering capability given by mesoporous TiO2 microspheres. Electrochemical impedance spectra analysis also proved that double-layered structure can result in prolonged exciton lifetime, improved charge collection efficiency and decreased charge recombination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People’s Republic of China

    Weiguo Zhang, Jiabao Gu, Suwei Yao & Hongzhi Wang

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  1. Weiguo Zhang
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  4. Hongzhi Wang
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Correspondence to Hongzhi Wang.

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Zhang, W., Gu, J., Yao, S. et al. The synthesis and application of TiO2 microspheres as scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 7356–7363 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-8725-9

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