Carbonate Doping in TiO2 Microsphere: The Key Parameter Influencing Others for Efficient Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

A DSSC Electrolyte Preparation Method Considering Light Path and Light Absorption

The electrolyte is one of the key components of dye-sensitized solar cells' (DSSC) structure. In this paper, the electrolyte formulation of a new DSSC with external photoanode structure was studied. Based on the idea that the electrolyte should match the light absorption and light path, iodine series electrolytes with different concentrations were configured and used in the experiment. The results showed that the external photoanode structure solar cells assembled with titanium electrode had the best photoelectric conversion ability when the concentration of I₂ was 0.048 M. It achieved the open circuit voltage of 0.71 V, the short circuit current of 8.87 mA, and the filling factor of 57%.

Optimization of Aluminium Doping Concentration in Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Photo Anode for Enhancing Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell

Well crystallized Aluminium (Al) doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with various doping concentration (0, 0.05[Formula: see text]M, 0.07[Formula: see text]M, 0.09[Formula: see text]M and 0.11[Formula: see text]M) were synthesized successfully by sol–gel route to develop the photo anode of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC). Anatase crystalline nature of TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrophotometer. The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the morphology of the photo anode (Al-doped TiO2 nanoparticles). The photovoltaic performance of the DSSC in terms of Current, Voltage and efficiency was investigated with a standard illumination of AM1.5G having an irradiance 100[Formula: see text]mW/cm2. Optimized values of Short Circuit Current density ([Formula: see text]), Open Circuit Voltage ([Formula: see text]) and efficiency ([Formula: see text]) obtained was 247.62[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A/cm2, 359[Formula: see text]mV and 0.02456%, respectively for 0.07[Formula: see text]M Al doping concentration. Eco-friendly Eosin Y dye was used for sensitization of the photo anode. The optimized photovoltaic cell exhibits very good efficiency (80.05% more than the earlier reported work).

Bimetallic Implanted Plasmonic Photoanodes for TiO2 Sensitized Third Generation Solar Cells

An auspicious way to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of third generation sensitized solar cells is to improve the light harvesting ability of TiO2 sensitizer and inhibition of back recombination reactions. In the present work, we have simultaneously comprehended both the factors using stable bimetallic Au and Ag metal nanoparticles (Mnps) embedded in TiO2 with ion implantation technique at lower fluence range; and explored them in third generation dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The best performing Au-Ag implanted DSSC (Fluence- 6 × 1015 ions cm-2) revealed 87.97% enhancement in its PCE relative to unimplanted DSSC; due to plasmon induced optical and electrical effects of Mnps. Here, optimized bimetallic Au-Ag Mnps embedded in TiO2 improves light harvesting of N719 dye; due to the well matched localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band of Au and Ag with low and high energy absorption bands of N719 dye molecules, respectively. Furthermore, Au and Ag acts as charge separation centers in TiO2 that inhibit the recombination reactions occurring at photoanode/electrolyte interface via prolonging photo-generated electron lifetime; resulting in efficient inter-facial charge transportation in DSSCs.

K. N, V. P. N. N, M. K. Understanding the role of alcohols in the growth behaviour of ZnO nanostructures prepared by solution based synthesis and their application in solar cells

We report the successful control of the ZnO nanostructures by a simple solution method using alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, butanol, hexanol, octanol and decanol as solvents.

Heterodimerization at the dye sensitized TiO2 surface: an efficient strategy toward quick removal of water contaminants

Sensitization of wide bandgap semiconductors with heterodimers for better solar light sensitivity has attracted widespread attention in the recent times. However, application of heterodimerization for removing soluble water pollutants from waste water is sparse in the literature. In the present study, we have utilized heterodimerization of a model pollutant methylene blue (MB) with a ruthenium based dye N719 for the removal of the pollutant. We have synthesized N719 functionalized carbonate doped TiO2 microspheres (doped MS) which act as a novel material for the detoxification of MB containing water by adsorbing at the surface and eventually killing by photoinduced reduction under visible light irradiation. The mechanism of surface adsorption and photoreduction of MB are explored using steady state and time resolved spectroscopy studies. We have fabricated two types of prototype devices (flow device and active filter) using the functionalized doped MS. Both the devices show excellent dye removal activity and recyclability. The present study would find relevance in the removal of soluble pollutants from waste water.

Combating fuel-driven aqua-pollution using ”benzomagnets“

”Benzomagnets“ were developed using protoporphyrin IX-sensitized TiO₂ microspheres to monitor and combat fuel-driven aqua-pollution.