The Effect of Phosphor-TiO₂ Layer on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are composed of an electrode made of a dye-adsorbed nanoporous TiO₂ layer on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate, redox electrolytes, and a counter electrode. In this study, phosphor is introduced into the TiO₂-layer electrode of a DSSC. The admixed phosphor content in the TiO₂ paste is varied from 1.0 to 10.0 wt%. By a conversion-luminescence process, ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺ phosphor improves light harvesting and increases the photocurrent. The phosphor elevates both, the energy level of electrons in the oxide film and V_oc of the DSSC. Using a TiO₂ electrode containing 5.00 wt% of admixed ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺, the light-to-electricity energy-conversion efficiency of the DSSC reaches 8.02%, which is higher by a factor of 1.25 than that of a DSSC without ZnGa₂O₄:Mn²⁺.

Keywords:

• TiO₂
• phosphor
• DSSCs
• nanoparticles