Efficiency Enhancement in ZnO:Al-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Structured with Sputtered TiO2 Blocking Layers

摘要: We explored new strategies for efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by combining dehydration–condensation reactions with sputtering deposition methods. The photoanodes were realized means of low-temperature preparation mesoporous TiO2 films on thin undoped compact (blocking) layers ZnO:Al (AZO) substrates and sensitization ruthenium dye, N719. For fabrication, an 8 μm thick film under critical thermal budget, applied before dye loading (≤200 °C: i.e., 150 °C the mesoscopic layer 200 blocking/AZO bilayer), employed, which renders overall process competitive applications. structural properties sputtered TiO2/AZO bilayer optimized, a cell as high 4.6%, above current literature limit AZO-based DSSC (3.8% 10 sintered at 450 sensitized N719), was achieved T ≤ °C. With proposed scheme ...