Improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells with compact TiO2 blocking layer prepared using low-temperature reactive ICP-assisted DC magnetron sputtering

Abstract

This study discusses about carrier blocking effects of a compact TiO2 deposited onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The compact TiO2 blocking layer is prepared by reactive inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-assisted DC magnetron sputtering without substrate heating. The resulting layer yields a 47% improvement in the energy conversion efficiency, indicating that the blocking layer prepared by low temperature ICP-assisted sputtering effectively prevents physical contact with the FTO. This process may suggest a new method for fabricating photoelectrodes which consist of TiO2 blocking layer for use in flexible DSSCs. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. All rights reserved.