Effect of Core-Shell Ag@TiO2Volume Ratio on Characteristics of TiO2-Based DSSCs

Abstract

This paper aims to develop photoanode material required by dye-sensitized solar cells. The material prepared is in the form of Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites. This material is used to replace the titanium oxide powder commonly used in general DSSCs. The prepared Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites are mixed with Degussa P25 TiO2in different proportions. Triton X-100 is added and polyethylene glycol (PEG) at 20 wt% is used as a polymer additive. This study tests the particle size and material properties of Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites and measures the photoelectric conversion efficiency and IPCE of DSSCs. Experimental results show that the DSSC prepared by Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites can achieve a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.67%. When Ag@TiO2core-shell-type nanocomposites are mixed with P25 nanoparticles in specific proportions, and when the thickness of the photoelectrode thin film is 28 μm, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can reach 6.06%, with a fill factor of 0.52, open-circuit voltage of 0.64V, and short-circuit density of 18.22 mAcm−2. Compared to the DSSC prepared by P25 TiO2only, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can be raised by 38% under the proposed approach.