Shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Xia Wu; Gao Qing Lu; Lianzhou Wang

doi:10.1039/c0ee00727g

Back

Shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Xia Wu, Gao Qing Lu and Lianzhou Wang

Energy and Environmental Science, Vol.4(9), pp.3565-3572

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ee00727g

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ee00727gView

Published Version

Abstract

anatase TiO2

nanocrystalline TiO2

conversion efficiency

generalized synthesis

films

scattering

carbon

microspheres

fabrication

templates

A new type of shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres (S@S-TiO2) featuring excellent light scattering properties were synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method followed by calcination. Various characterizations revealed that the ratio of sucrose to TiF4 in the reagents plays a key role in controlling the hollow architecture and shell thickness of the resultant S@S-TiO2 structure. The excellent light scattering property of S@S-TiO2 makes it a promising candidate for use as the scattering layer in dye-sensitized solar cells. A bilayer structured photoelectrode consisting of the S@S-TiO2 film as a scattering layer on top of the benchmark TiO2 P25 thin film exhibited an overall conversion efficiency of 9.10% under AM-1.5G one sun light intensity, in comparison with the 7.65% efficiency for a pristine P25 photoanode. Broader context: The dye-sensitized solar cell has been intensively investigated as a promising photovoltaic system in utilizing the clean and infinite solar energy due to its high efficiency, non-toxic, and low cost nature. Light scattering structures such as hollow spheres are proposed to increase the efficiency of DSSCs by improving light harvesting. This paper presents a facile one-pot synthesis method for a new type of shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres featuring excellent light scattering properties and its application in DSSCs. A 19% enhancement in DSSC efficiency is observed after introducing the shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres as a scattering layer in the solar cell.

Details

Title: Shell-in-shell TiO2 hollow spheres synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method for dye-sensitized solar cell application
Authors: Xia Wu (Author) - University of Queensland
Gao Qing Lu (Author) - University of Queensland
Lianzhou Wang (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Energy and Environmental Science, Vol.4(9), pp.3565-3572
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (R S C) Publications
Date published: 2011
DOI: 10.1039/c0ee00727g
ISSN: 1754-5692
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449836502621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

5 File views/ downloads

644 Record Views

215 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Web Of Science research areas: Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Energy & Fuels; Engineering, Chemical; Environmental Sciences

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites