Method of improving power conversion efficiencies in dye-sensitized solar cells by facile surface treatment
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsZhiqun Lin, Jun Wang
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Abstract
Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization and sensitized with dye to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells is described. With inorganic compound (such as TiCl4) treatment, in conjunction with oxygen plasma exposure under optimized conditions, dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells produced using TiO2 nanotube arrays exhibited a pronounced power conversion efficiency.
Claims17
In the process of forming dye sensitized solar cells from semiconductor anode via electrochemical anodization and application of a molecular sensitizer and an electrolyte, the improvement comprising:
- improving the power conversion efficiency of the dye sensitized solar cell with a facile surface treatment by TiCl4 and a plasma exposed to the surface.
A process for forming dye sensitized solar cells from a semi-conductor anode by electrochemical anodization comprising:
- forming a nanotube array from a semiconductor anode;
- facile surface treating the array with TiCl4;
- and
- exposing the treated surface of the array to O2 plasma to increase hydroxyl groups on the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.