Effects of the Multi-Layered Light Scattering Layers Dual-Coated by Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Abstract

Multi-layered light scattering layer has been designed to improve the energy conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by scattering of the incident light. To enhance the light scattering properties, the surface of light scattering TiO₂ particle was dual-coated with nano-sized Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ particles by using a modified sol-gel method. Four kinds of the TiO₂ electrodes with different thicknesses were fabricated and their photovoltaic effects on DSSCs were investigated. By increasing the thickness of light scattering layer, the total reflectance of working electrodes increased to 37%, resulting in an increase in the energy conversion efficiency up to 6.76%.

Keywords:

• Dye-sensitized solar cell
• light scattering layer
• modified sol-gel method
• dual-coating
• energy conversion efficiency

Acknowledgment

This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science Technology (MEST) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Human Resource Training Project for Regional Innovation. This research was supported by the fund from Kyungpook National University Specialization Program, 2011.