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Improved performance of oxidized Alizarin based Quasi solid state Dye Sensitized solar cell by Surface Treatment

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Author Affiliations

  • 14 Faculty of Science, National Law University, Jodhpur, Raj., INDIA Lachoo Memorial College of Science & Technology, Jodhpur, Raj., INDIA Jaipur Engineering College, Kukas, Jaipur, Raj., INDIA Defense Laboratory, Jodhpur, Raj., INDIA

Res.J.chem.sci., Volume 2, Issue (2), Pages 61-71, February,18 (2012)

Abstract

The effect of the TiCl (titanium tetrachloride ) post-treatment on nanocrystalline TiO films in quasi solid state dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is investigated and compared to nontreated films. DSSCs are fabricated employing metal free oxidized alizarin dye as photo sensitizer, polymer sol gel as electrolyte with PEDOT:PSS coated FTO as counter electrode. The performance of both TiCl treated and nontreated DSSCs are analyzed by cyclic voltammograms, optical absorption spectra, kelvin probe scanning, electrochemical impedance spectra, current–voltage characteristics in dark and under illumination. As a result of this post-treatment, a significant increase in conversion efficiency and short circuit current density is observed. The overall power conversion efficiency improves from 3.57 % to 5.12 % upon TiCl treatment. This improvement is attributed to increase in dye loading, enhancement in electron lifetime and shift in the conduction band edge upon TiCl treatment. Here, the shift in the conduction band edge of the TiO upon TiCl treatment creates a driving force for charge transfer from the LUMO of the dye molecules to the conduction band of TiO which results in improved charge injection.

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