Enhanced Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Surface-Modified ZnO Nanorods

Abstract

The surface destruction of the ZnO nanorod electrodes occurs in the dye-sensitization process, resulting in the extreme decreases of the short-circuit photocurrent density (J_SC), compared to TiO₂electrodes. To solve these problems, the TiO₂nanolayer is coated on the ZnO nanorod electrodes using a titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) assisted sonochemical process, which provides faster surface modification. The TiO₂nanolayer can form new energy barrier on the ZnO nanorods, which can effectively inhibit the surface charge recombination and improve the energy conversion efficiency of the ZnO nanorod-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

Keywords:

• Dye-sensitized solar cell
• sonochemical
• surface modification
• TiO₂nanolayer
• ZnO nanorod

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2013R1A1A4A01008503).