Micro-scale hierarchical photoanode for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells based on TiO₂ nanowires

Abstract

This paper proposed a new architecture design for nanowire-based quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells to improve the photovoltaic performance. Microstructured rough substrate was used to increase the surface area of the photoanode without influence on charge carrier transport in the system. Compared to conventional devices, the short circuit current density and power conversion efficiency were enhanced by 50%. And the technology can be widely used in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) field, and it can be combined with other hierarchical nanostructures.

Keywords

quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) / hierarchical structure / TiO₂ nanowires

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Nos. 2013CB932602 and 2011CB707601), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51272007 and 11234001). Q.Z acknowledges Beijing Nova Program (No. XX2013003) and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of China.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg