Dye-sensitized solar cells using network structure of electrospun ZnO nanofiber mats

Abstract

Nanostructured semiconducting metal oxides and particularly nanofiber-based photoelectrodes can provide enhanced energy conversion efficiencies in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study ZnO/poly (vinyl acetate) composite nanofiber mats were directly electrospun onto a glass substrate coated with F:SnO2, then hot pressed at 120 degrees C and calcined at 450 degrees C. This resulted in multiple nanofiber networks composed of a twisted structure of 200 - 500 nm diameter cores with 30 nm single grains. The DSSCs using ZnO nanofiber mats exhibited a conversion efficiency of 1.34% under 100 mW/cm(2) (AM- 1.5G) illumination. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.