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Gold nanoparticles of ∼100 nm in diameter were incorporated into TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). At the optimum Au/TiO2 mass ratio of 0.05, the power-conversion efficiency of the DSSC improved to 3.3% from a value of 2.7% without Au, and this improvement was mainly attributed to the photocurrent density. The Au nanoparticles embedded in the nanoparticulate-TiO2 film strongly absorbed light due to the localized surface-plasmon resonance, and thereby promoted light absorption of the dye. In the DSSCs, the 100 nm-diameter Au nanoparticles generate field enhancement by surface-plasmon resonance rather than prolonged optical paths by light scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the efficiency enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and using it as anode. Further enhancement in DSSC parameters was observed after TiCl4treatment on TiO2Ag anode. It was observed that the short circuit current densityJscwas increased from 6.95 to 12.58 mA/cm2by TiCl4treatment with no change inVocand fill factor increasing the efficiency from 3.29 to 5.61%. The fabricated DSSCs using TiO2AgNPs anode with both pre and post TiCl4treatment appear to have the maximum efficiency as compared to other cells. Due to effective electron transport and enhanced absorption of dye on TiO2AgNPs anode surface, the maximum conversion efficiency of 7.3% was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In order to prevent the charge recombination at the interface between the transparent-conducting oxide (TCO) substrate and electrolyte, a TiO2 compact layer was deposited on the substrate by hydrolysis of TiCl4 aqueous solution. Optimum thickness of the compact layer was found to be ∼25 nm, which showed ∼24% increase in the power-conversion efficiency compared with the bare cell. Impedance spectra indicated that the interfacial charge-transfer resistance of TCO/electrolyte interface was increased by more than a factor of three with the TiO2 compact layer at 0.4 V. Moreover, the electron-carrier lifetime of the 25 nm-deposited cell was improved by a factor of five compared with the bare cell. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to reduce the surface recombination at the interface between the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and the polysulfide electrolyte in CdS quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), compact TiO2 is deposited on the FTO electrode by sputtering. The TiO2-coated CdS-sensitized solar cell exhibits enhanced power-conversion efficiency (0.52%) compared with a bare CdS-sensitized solar cell (0.23%). Charge-transfer kinetics are analyzed by impedance spectroscopy, open-circuit decay, and cyclic voltammetry. The TiO2 layer deposited on the FTO substrate acts as a blocking layer, which plays a significant role in reducing the electron back transfer from the FTO to the polysulfide electrolyte. Interestingly, with respect to the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) data, asymmetric enhancement is observed from the sample with a thicker blocking layer. This is because CdS quantum dots absorb ultraviolet light completely with the TiO2 layer because of the high extinction coefficient of the CdS quantum dots compared with dye molecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]