TY - JOUR
T1 - SiO2 aerogel templated, porous TiO2 photoanodes for enhanced performance in dye-sensitized solar cells containing a Ni(III)/(IV) Bis(dicarbollide) shuttle
AU - Li, Tina C.
AU - Fabregat-Santiago, Francisco
AU - Farha, Omar K.
AU - Spokoyny, Alexander M.
AU - Raga, Sonia R.
AU - Bisquert, Juan
AU - Mirkin, Chad A.
AU - Marks, Tobin J.
AU - Hupp, Joseph T.
PY - 2011/6/6
Y1 - 2011/6/6
N2 - High-area photoanodes consisting of silica aerogels, overcoated by atomic-layer-deposited TiO2, were fabricated on transparent conducting oxide platforms for their use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) in a similar fashion as previously described. These films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, gas adsorption, and light and dark electrochemical impedance measurements. The use of aerogellated photoanodes in DSCs with a Ni(III/IV) bis(dicarbollide) redox shuttle results in a greater than 2-fold enhancement in photocurrent densities, in comparison to similar cells containing photoanodes constructed from TiO2 nanoparticles. This improvement in photocurrent is attributed to a combination of improved electron transport, increased recombination resistance across the TiO2/electrolyte interface, and increased light scattering within the aerogel films. As a result, DSC charge collection efficiencies with this comparatively fast exchanging outer-sphere redox couple are improved in the TiO2 aerogel templated photoanode.
AB - High-area photoanodes consisting of silica aerogels, overcoated by atomic-layer-deposited TiO2, were fabricated on transparent conducting oxide platforms for their use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) in a similar fashion as previously described. These films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, gas adsorption, and light and dark electrochemical impedance measurements. The use of aerogellated photoanodes in DSCs with a Ni(III/IV) bis(dicarbollide) redox shuttle results in a greater than 2-fold enhancement in photocurrent densities, in comparison to similar cells containing photoanodes constructed from TiO2 nanoparticles. This improvement in photocurrent is attributed to a combination of improved electron transport, increased recombination resistance across the TiO2/electrolyte interface, and increased light scattering within the aerogel films. As a result, DSC charge collection efficiencies with this comparatively fast exchanging outer-sphere redox couple are improved in the TiO2 aerogel templated photoanode.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79958704559&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/jp112139h
DO - 10.1021/jp112139h
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79958704559
VL - 115
SP - 11257
EP - 11264
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
SN - 1932-7447
IS - 22
ER -