We introduce high surface area ZnO nanotube photoanodes templated by anodic aluminum oxide for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Atomic layer deposition is utilized to coat pores conformally, providing a direct path for charge collection over tens of micrometers thickness. Compared to similar ZnO-based devices, ZnO nanotube cells show exceptional photovoltage and fill factors, in addit...

Abstract The most popular semiconductor in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) because of its low cost, non-toxicity, and good stability. However, the DSSCs still have efficiency due to light absorption TiO visible region. Understanding properties can contribute improving DSSCs. In this study, we use density functional theory investigate electronic optical brookite (...

We demonstrated the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Ni nanoparticles (NiNPs) on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Our study revealed that NiNPs in a conventional I(-)/I3(-) electrolyte (NiNPs@I(-)/I3(-)) increased the net optical absorption of a N719 dye over a broad wavelength range by LSPR, and concurrently improved the power conversion efficiency (PC...

4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and Hoechst 33342 (H33342) were used as novel energy relay dyes (ERDs) for an efficient energy transfer to the N719 dye in I(-)/I3(-) based liquid-junction dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The introduction of the ERDs, either as an additive in the electrolyte or as a co-adsorbent, greatly enhanced the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), mainly because o...

This study investigates the extent to which the TiO2/graphene/TiO2 sandwich structure improves the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) over that of DSSCs with the traditional structure. Studies have demonstrated that the TiO2/graphene/TiO2 sandwich structure effectively enhances the open circuit voltage (V oc), short-circuit current density (J sc), and photoelectrical conversion e...

Photovoltaic characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using TiO2 nanotube (TNT) arrays as photoanodes were investigated. The TNT arrays were 3.3, 11.5, and 20.6 μm long with the pore diameters of 50, 78.6, and 98.7 nm, respectively. The longest TNT array of 20.6 μm in length showed enhanced photovoltaic performances of 3.87% with significantly increased photocurrent density of 8.26...

The temperatureand frequency-dependent ac conductivity of nanoporous metal-oxide semiconductors commonly used in technologies for solar photoconversion is analyzed using a model based on fluctuation-induced tunneling conduction (FITC). The model takes into account the potential barriers at the regions of nanoparticle contact that limit electron transport. In contrast to previous models, quantit...

To optimize the conversion efficiency of plastic dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated by the electrophoretic deposition technique, anatase TiO2 nanoparticles of various sizes from 10 nm to 27 nm have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process. The obtained TiO2 nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, which confirm...

In the current work, we report a series of bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) that provide power conversion efficiencies of more than 10% from bifacial irradiation. The device comprises an N719-sensitized TiO2 anode, a transparent nickel selenide (Ni-Se) alloy counter electrode (CE), and liquid electrolyte containing I(-)/I3(-) redox couples. Because of the high optical transparency, e...

As the demand for renewable energy resource is growing rapidly worldwide, a variety of energy materials and technologies are being developed. In this review, we aim to summarize recent developments in the state-of-the-art research on energy harvesting technologies such as thin-film Si or Ge, CdTe, GaAs, organic, hybrid, and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) utilizing one-dimensional (1D) nanom...