Low-temperature versus oxygen plasma treatment of water-based TiO2 paste for dye-sensitized solar cells

摘要: High-temperature treatment steps in fabrication process of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) significantly contribute to the manufacturing costs and limit use temperature sensitive substrates. Therefore our aim was develop a simple method for preparation water-based TiO2 paste. The paste is based on peroxotitanic acid (PTA) sol–gel matrix commercial nanoparticles (P25). Two processes decompose/transform PTA printed layer are explored combined: annealing at temperatures up 250 °C and/or oxygen plasma treatment. results show that converts anatase phase some extent also attaches P25 acting as an interconnecting network within layer. transformation occurs around 250 °C, but presence it starts already 120 °C. In addition reveal crystallization achievable solely with efficiency layers, exposed different post-deposition treatments, evaluated DSSCs. layers could efficiently replace curing 250 °C. Within this study DSSCs 4.2 % measured under standard test conditions (1,000 W/m2, AM1.5, 25 °C) were realized.