Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Surface modification of porous ZnO photoelectrode using one- and two-step etching process is investigated for enhancing power conversion efficiency of ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells. ZnO films are modified by the diluted NH4OH solutions for one-step etching process and used as photoelectrode of dye-...

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Main Authors: Sutthipoj Sutthana, Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan, Atcharawon Gardchareon, Surachet Phadungdhitidhada, Pipat Ruankham, Supab Choopun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Nanomaterials
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7403019
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spelling doaj-ed1e7e4783424e7ba5bc6c2990b916aa2020-11-24T23:58:11ZengHindawi LimitedJournal of Nanomaterials1687-41101687-41292016-01-01201610.1155/2016/74030197403019Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsSutthipoj Sutthana0Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan1Atcharawon Gardchareon2Surachet Phadungdhitidhada3Pipat Ruankham4Supab Choopun5Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandSurface modification of porous ZnO photoelectrode using one- and two-step etching process is investigated for enhancing power conversion efficiency of ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells. ZnO films are modified by the diluted NH4OH solutions for one-step etching process and used as photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Rough porous films are observed after one-step etching process. The fabricated cells based on the optimized one-step etched films show a significant increase in short-circuit current density. The short-circuit current density is directly changed with amount of dye adsorption, which is related to specific surface area. The etched films exhibit higher specific surface area over two times than nonetched films. Thus, the large specific surface area is the key success for increasing amount of dye adsorption. Internal electrochemical property of fabricated cells is also improved, indicating that chemical surface of ZnO films is modified in the same time. The DSSCs fabricated on two-step etched films with NH4OH and mixed acid HCl : HNO3 show the maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.26%. Moreover, fill factor is also increased due to better redox process because of the formation of fine porous structure during the etching process. Therefore, these results implied that the roles of etching processes are improving specific surface area and fine porous formation which can provide better dye adsorption and redox process for dye-sensitized solar cell application.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7403019
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Sutthipoj Sutthana
Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan
Atcharawon Gardchareon
Surachet Phadungdhitidhada
Pipat Ruankham
Supab Choopun
spellingShingle Sutthipoj Sutthana
Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan
Atcharawon Gardchareon
Surachet Phadungdhitidhada
Pipat Ruankham
Supab Choopun
Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Journal of Nanomaterials
author_facet Sutthipoj Sutthana
Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan
Atcharawon Gardchareon
Surachet Phadungdhitidhada
Pipat Ruankham
Supab Choopun
author_sort Sutthipoj Sutthana
title Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
title_short Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
title_full Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
title_fullStr Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed Surface Modification of Porous Photoelectrode Using Etching Process for Efficiency Enhancement of ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
title_sort surface modification of porous photoelectrode using etching process for efficiency enhancement of zno dye-sensitized solar cells
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Journal of Nanomaterials
issn 1687-4110
1687-4129
publishDate 2016-01-01
description Surface modification of porous ZnO photoelectrode using one- and two-step etching process is investigated for enhancing power conversion efficiency of ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells. ZnO films are modified by the diluted NH4OH solutions for one-step etching process and used as photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. Rough porous films are observed after one-step etching process. The fabricated cells based on the optimized one-step etched films show a significant increase in short-circuit current density. The short-circuit current density is directly changed with amount of dye adsorption, which is related to specific surface area. The etched films exhibit higher specific surface area over two times than nonetched films. Thus, the large specific surface area is the key success for increasing amount of dye adsorption. Internal electrochemical property of fabricated cells is also improved, indicating that chemical surface of ZnO films is modified in the same time. The DSSCs fabricated on two-step etched films with NH4OH and mixed acid HCl : HNO3 show the maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.26%. Moreover, fill factor is also increased due to better redox process because of the formation of fine porous structure during the etching process. Therefore, these results implied that the roles of etching processes are improving specific surface area and fine porous formation which can provide better dye adsorption and redox process for dye-sensitized solar cell application.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7403019
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