Multi-functional 3D N-doped TiO2 microspheres used as scattering layers for dye-sensitized solar cells

作     者：Zijian Cui Kaiyue Zhang Guangyu Xing Yaqing Feng Shuxian Meng 

作者机构：School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 China Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin 300350 China 

出 版 物：《Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering》 (化学科学与工程前沿（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2017年第11卷第3期

页      面：395-404页

核心收录：

学科分类：081705[工学-工业催化] 08[工学] 0817[工学-化学工程与技术] 080502[工学-材料学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 

基　　金：supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for International Academic Exchanges by National Key Technologies R&D Program 

主　　题：DSSCs N doping scattering layer electron lifetime 

摘      要：Three-dimensional TiO2 microspheres doped with N were synthesized by a simple single-step solvothermal method and the sample treated for 15 h （hereafter called TMF） was then used as scattering layers in the photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells （DSSCs）. The TMF was characterized using scanning electron micro- scopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The TMF had a high surface area of 93.2 m2. g-~ which was beneficial for more dye-loading. Five photoanode films with different internal structures were fabricated by printing different numbers of TMF scattering layers on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass. UV-vis diffuse reflection spectra, incident photon-to-current efficiencies, photocurrent-voltage curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the optical and electrochemical proper- ties of these photoanodes in DSSCs. The presence of nitrogen in the TMF changed the TMF microstructure, which led to a higher open circuit voltage and a longer electron lifetime. In addition, the presence of the nitrogen significantly improved the light utilization and photocur- rent. The highest photoelectric conversion efficiency achieved was 8.08%, which is much higher than that derived from typical P25 nanoparticles （6.52%）.