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Magnetron Sputtered Electron Blocking Layer as an Efficient Method to Improve Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

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  • Dariusz Augustowski

    (Research & Development Centre for Photovoltaics, ML System S.A. Zaczernie 190G, 36-062 Zaczernie, Poland
    Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland)

  • Paweł Kwaśnicki

    (Research & Development Centre for Photovoltaics, ML System S.A. Zaczernie 190G, 36-062 Zaczernie, Poland
    Department of Physical Chemistry and Physicochemical Basis of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering in Stalowa Wola, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Kwiatkowskiego 3A, 37-450 Stalowa Wola, Poland)

  • Justyna Dziedzic

    (Research & Development Centre for Photovoltaics, ML System S.A. Zaczernie 190G, 36-062 Zaczernie, Poland)

  • Jakub Rysz

    (Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Cracow, Poland)

Abstract

The main efficiency loss is caused by an intensive recombination process at the interface of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells. Electrons from the photoanode can be injected back to the redox electrolyte and, thus, can reduce the short circuit current. To avoid this, the effect of the electron blocking layer (EBL) was studied. An additional thin film of magnetron sputtered TiO 2 was deposited directly onto the FTO glass. The obtained EBL was characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical profilometry, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometry. The results of the current–voltage characteristics showed that both the short circuit current (I sc ) and fill factor (FF) increased. Compared to traditional dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) architecture, the power conversion efficiency (η) increased from 4.67% to 6.07% for samples with a 7 × 7 mm 2 active area and from 2.62% to 3.06% for those with an area of 7 × 80 mm 2 .

Suggested Citation

  • Dariusz Augustowski & Paweł Kwaśnicki & Justyna Dziedzic & Jakub Rysz, 2020. "Magnetron Sputtered Electron Blocking Layer as an Efficient Method to Improve Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2690-:d:363408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maddah, Hisham A. & Berry, Vikas & Behura, Sanjay K., 2020. "Biomolecular photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells: Recent developments and critical insights," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
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