Improved conductivity in dye-sensitised solar cells through block-copolymer confined TiO2 crystallisation

Journal article

Anatase TiO2 is typically a central component in high performance dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs). This study demonstrates the benefits of high temperature synthesised mesoporous titania for the performance of solid-state DSCs. In contrast to earlier methods, the high temperature stability of mesoporous titania is enabled by the self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymer polyisoprene-block-polyethylene oxide (PI-b -PEO) which compartmentalises TiO2 crystallisation, preventing the collapse of porosity at temperatures up to 700 °C. The systematic study of the temperature dependence on DSC performance reveals a parameter trade-off: high temperature annealed anatase consisted of larger crystallites and had a higher conductivity, but this came at the expense of a reduced specific surface area. While the reduction in specific surface areas was found to be detrimental for liquid-electrolyte DSC performance, solid-state DSCs benefitted from the increased anatase conductivity and exhibited a performance increase by a factor of three. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Authors: Guldin, S; Huettner, S; Tiwana, P; Orilall, M; Uelguet, B

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: ENERGY and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 225-233
• Publication date: 2011-01-01
• DOI: 10.1039/c0ee00362j
• EISSN: 1754-5706
• ISSN: 1754-5692
• Language: English