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  5. Achieving enhanced DSSC performance by microwave plasma incorporation of carbon into TiO2 photoelectrodes
 
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Achieving enhanced DSSC performance by microwave plasma incorporation of carbon into TiO2 photoelectrodes

Author(s)
Dang, Binh H.Q.  
MacElroy, J. M. Don  
Dowling, Denis P.  
Uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10197/4199
Date Issued
2013-06-15
Date Available
2013-03-20T12:35:07Z
Abstract
The photoactivity of carbon-incorporated titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely reported. This study involves a novel approach to the incorporation of carbon into TiO2 through the use of microwave plasma processing. The process involved thermally treating printed TiO2 nanoparticle coatings in a microwave-induced argon-oxygen plasma containing low concentrations of methane. The resulting deposited carbon layer was characterized using XRD, XPS, Raman, UV–vis, ellipsometry, and optical profilometry. It was found that the methane gas was dissociated in the microwave plasma into its carbon species, which were then deposited as a nm-thick layer onto the TiO2 coatings, most likely in the form of graphite. The photovoltaic performances of both the TiO2 and the carbon-incorporated TiO2 were assessed through J-V and IPCE measurements of the N719-sensitized solar cells using the titania as their photoanodes. Up to a 72% improvement in the maximum power density (Pd-max) was observed for the carbon-incorporated TiO2 samples as compared to the TiO2, onto which no carbon was added. This improvement was found to be mainly associated with an increase in the short-circuit current density (Jsc), but independent from the open-circuit voltage (Voc), the filter factor (FF), and the level of dye adsorption. Possible contributory factors to the improved performance of the carbon-incorporated TiO2 were the enhanced electron conductivity and electron lifetime, both of which were elucidated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). When the surface layer was examined using XPS, the optimal carbon content on the TiO2 coating surface was found to be 8.4%, beyond which there was a reduction in the DSSC efficiency.
Sponsorship
Science Foundation Ireland
Other Sponsorship
07/SRC/B1160
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Applied Surface Science
Volume
275
Issue
15 June 2013
Start Page
289
End Page
294
Copyright (Published Version)
2013, Elsevier B.V.
Subjects

Microwave plasma

Carbon incorporation

Titanium dioxide

Dye-sensitized solar ...

DOI
10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.12.121
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ie/
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Appl_Surface_Science_2013_Dang_et_al.pdf

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488.17 KB

Format

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Checksum (MD5)

11a2a3062d519a169fa366562e8fc5fa

Owning collection
Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering Research Collection

Item descriptive metadata is released under a CC-0 (public domain) license: https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/.
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