Preparation of Photoactive Transition-Metal Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) to Replace Dye-Sensitized Materials in Solar Cells

• Main Authors: Sajid Naseem, Bianca R. Gevers, Frederick J. W. J. Labuschagné, Andreas Leuteritz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
• Series: Materials
• Subjects: layered double hydroxide solar cell (LDHSC); photoactive material; UV-Vis absorption; dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC); photoactive layered double hydroxide (LDH); transition metal modification
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/19/4384

This work highlights the use of Fe-modified MgAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) to replace dye and semiconductor complexes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), forming a layered double hydroxide solar cell (LDHSC). For this purpose, a MgAl-LDH and a Fe-modified MgAl LDH were prepared. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were used to analyze the structural properties, morphology, and success of the Fe-modification of the synthesized LDHs. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze the photoactive behavior of these LDHs and compare it to that of TiO₂ and dye-sensitized TiO₂. Current-voltage (I–V) solar simulation was used to determine the fill factor (FF), open circuit voltage (V_OC), short circuit current (I_SC), and efficiency of the LDHSCs. It was shown that the MgFeAl-LDH can act as a simultaneous photoabsorber and charge separator, effectively replacing the dye and semiconductor complex in DSSCs and yielding an efficiency of 1.56%.