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    Efficiency enhancement of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by doping polythiophene films photoelectrochemically grown onto TiO2 nanoparticles covered with cis-bis(isothiocyanato) bis(2,2 '-bipyridyl-4,4 '-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)

    Year: 2020

    Journal: Electrochim. Acta, Volume 355, SEP 20

    Authors: Yan, Wenyuan; Jiang, Dianlu; Guo, Wenjuan; Zhou, Feimeng

    Organizations: Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology program at California State University, Los Angeles (NSF) [HRD-1547723]; National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [21802052]; Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of ChinaNatural Science Foundation of Shandong Province [ZR2019MB066]; Shangdong Provincial Program of Talent-Leading Teams

    Keywords: N3 dye; Photoelectrochemical polymerization; Polythiophene; n-Doping; Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

    We recently reported on the effect of dopant sizes on the performance of polythiophene (PT)-based solar cells wherein the PT film was polymerized with 3-{5-[N,N-bis(4-diphenylamino)phenyl]thieno[3,2-b] thiophen-2-yl}-2-cyano-acrylic acid (C207) pre-adsorbed onto the electrode. Herein we utilized n- and p-doped polythiophene (PT) films as part of the solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (ssDSSCs) based on cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) (N3), the most commonly used dye sensitizer. Although the structure of the N3 is different from the chain-like C207, a smooth and homogeneous PT film can still be grown photoelectrochemically into the pores and onto the surface of the N3-covered TiO2 nanoparticles. The PT films were electrochemically doped with anions (ClO4- or PF6-) and cations (tetrabutylammonium, TBA(+), or tetramethylammonium, TMA(+)). TMA(+), being smaller, leads to a higher doping level in the PT films and a power conversion efficiency of 7.57 +/- 0.33%, which is a 33% increase over that constructed with undoped PT films. However, the efficiency of the anion-doped PT films is reduced when compared to that of the undoped PT films. The N3-sensitized solar cell comprising a TMA(+)-doped PT film is 15% more efficient and costs at least 57% less than the PT-based solar cell comprising C207. This study demonstrates that the n-doped PT film can be a useful interfacial modifier, and pre-adsorbed N3 not only assists the growth of smooth PT films, but also enhances light absorption and power conversion efficiency of the resultant DSSC. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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