Performance improvement of dye-sensitized solar cell by introducing Sm3+/Y3+ co-doped TiO2 film as an efficient blocking layer

Publication date: 1 June 2017
Source:Thin Solid Films, Volume 631
Author(s): Yiying Qin, Zhiqiang Hu, Boon Han Lim, Bin Yang, Kok-Keong Chong, Wei Sea Chang, Putao Zhang, Haitao Zhang
Luminescence mediums: samarium ion and yttrium ion, were introduced to expand the photo-response region of TiO2 by means of the down-conversion effect to convert ultraviolet light into visible light, offering a unique method to enhance the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their crystal structures, optical properties as well as photovoltaic performance were investigated systematically. The result indicates that the DSSCs doped with a total molar ratio of 4mol% of Sm³⁺ and Y³⁺ show an overall power conversion efficiency of 4.09%, which is equivalent to improvements of 17.52% and 16.2% as compared to the no blocking layer DSSCs and pure TiO2 blocking layer DSSCs respectively. The improvement in conversion efficiency is attributed to the dual effects including down-conversion of ultraviolet light and reduction of electron-hole recombination rate.