Improved Open-Circuit Voltage of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with LiNO3-Incorporated Titanium Dioxides

Abstract

The influence of LiNO3 incorporation onto TiO2 electrodes on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was studied. LiNO3 -incorporated TiO2 electrodes were prepared by a dip coating process and the resulting electrodes were applied to DSSCs. Open circuit voltage (Voc) of DSSC with a LiNO3 -modified TiO2 layer was averagely improved by over 24% compared to that of a reference device with bare TiO2 . The conduction band edge shift of TiO2 to a negative direction, arising from the formation of a surface dipole, accounted for the improvement in Voc . © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.