TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic Effect of Size-Tailored Structural Engineering and Postinterface Modification for Highly Efficient and Stable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
AU - Zhou, Haoran
AU - Lee, Hyun Jae
AU - Masud, None
AU - Aftabuzzaman, Mohammad
AU - Kang, Sung Ho
AU - Kim, Chul Hoon
AU - Kim, Hyung Mun
AU - Kim, Hwan Kyu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 American Chemical Society
PY - 2023/9/20
Y1 - 2023/9/20
N2 - Despite significant progress in device performance, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) continue to fall short of their theoretical potential. Moreover, research in recent years needs to pay more attention to improving the device fabrication process. To achieve the theoretical efficiency limit, it is crucial to optimize the interface between the dye and TiO2 nanoparticles in the entire device stack. Our study indicates that optimizing the structure or size of the coadsorbents and implementing a monolayer adsorption process can be an effective strategy to reduce charge recombination and enhance light-harvesting properties. Our research aims to develop a surface-coating adsorbent plan that controls the TiO2 nanoparticle interface to achieve the radiative limit of power conversion efficiency (PCE). Specifically, we utilized 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid (THCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) as postinterfacial surface-coating adsorbents. Our results demonstrate that this approach effectively achieves the desired PCE limit. Combined with the coadsorbent structure engineering and interface optimization, the device increased the packing area on the TiO2 nanoparticles’ surface, reaching an improved PCE of over 13.17% under simulated sunlight (1.5G), which is the highest efficiency of a porphyrin single dye-based DSSC. In particular, this practical approach was also applied to a large-area DSSC with an area of 3 cm2, yielding a remarkable PCE of 9.04%. Furthermore, when applied to a polymer gel electrolyte, this novel approach recorded the highest PCE of 11.16% with a long-term operational stability of up to 1000 h for the quasi-solid-state DSSCs. Our research findings provide a promising avenue for achieving high-performance DSSCs with ease of access and demonstrate practical applications as alternatives to conventional power sources.
AB - Despite significant progress in device performance, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) continue to fall short of their theoretical potential. Moreover, research in recent years needs to pay more attention to improving the device fabrication process. To achieve the theoretical efficiency limit, it is crucial to optimize the interface between the dye and TiO2 nanoparticles in the entire device stack. Our study indicates that optimizing the structure or size of the coadsorbents and implementing a monolayer adsorption process can be an effective strategy to reduce charge recombination and enhance light-harvesting properties. Our research aims to develop a surface-coating adsorbent plan that controls the TiO2 nanoparticle interface to achieve the radiative limit of power conversion efficiency (PCE). Specifically, we utilized 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid (THCA) or chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) as postinterfacial surface-coating adsorbents. Our results demonstrate that this approach effectively achieves the desired PCE limit. Combined with the coadsorbent structure engineering and interface optimization, the device increased the packing area on the TiO2 nanoparticles’ surface, reaching an improved PCE of over 13.17% under simulated sunlight (1.5G), which is the highest efficiency of a porphyrin single dye-based DSSC. In particular, this practical approach was also applied to a large-area DSSC with an area of 3 cm2, yielding a remarkable PCE of 9.04%. Furthermore, when applied to a polymer gel electrolyte, this novel approach recorded the highest PCE of 11.16% with a long-term operational stability of up to 1000 h for the quasi-solid-state DSSCs. Our research findings provide a promising avenue for achieving high-performance DSSCs with ease of access and demonstrate practical applications as alternatives to conventional power sources.
KW - charge recombination
KW - coadsorbent
KW - dye-sensitized solar cells
KW - interfacial modification
KW - postadsorbents
KW - structure engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171901823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsami.3c09228
DO - 10.1021/acsami.3c09228
M3 - Article
C2 - 37695216
AN - SCOPUS:85171901823
SN - 1944-8244
VL - 15
SP - 43835
EP - 43844
JO - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
JF - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
IS - 37
ER -