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In this study, iron oxide (Fe2O3)/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers (NFs) were used as an additional layer on photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to improve the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. The nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning with double jets. The heterogeneous nanofiber composite mainly includes Fe2O3, g-C3N4, and TiO2. The Fe2O3/g-C3N4/TiO2 NFs were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the surface morphology was observed by a field emission scanning electron microscope (Fe-SEM). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was applied to analyze the impedance of the cell. The incident photon current efficiency (IPCE) measurements were applied to determine the quantum efficiency, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer was applied to observe the dye adsorption and absorption wavelength. To understand the performance of the modified photoanodes in DSSCs, we analyzed the photovoltaic parameters. The results suggest that the addition of Fe2O3/g-C3N4/TiO2 NFs is able to improve the conversion efficiency of the modified DSSCs to 4.81%. In addition, the efficiency under different illumination was also analyzed, and the highest conversion efficiency was 6.81% at 30 mW/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PbTiO3 was used as a dopant and PbTiO3/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers (NFs) were used as a scattering layer in the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Their effects on the characteristics of the photoanode of DSSC were studied. The DSSC with the modified photoanode by PbTiO3 and PbTiO3/TiO2 NFs was characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), ${J}$ – ${V}$ characterization, and incident photon current efficiency (IPCE) measurement. The results show that PbTiO3 and PbTiO3/TiO2 NFs can improve the photovoltaic characteristics of DSSC photoanode. The DSSC with modified photoanode by PbTiO3/TiO2 NFs shows better photoelectric conversion efficiency ($\eta $). Compared with the DSSC without modification (TiO2 photoanode), the photovoltaic conversion efficiency ($\eta $) of the DSSC with modified photoanode by PbTiO3/TiO2 NFs has increased by 19%. Based on this research, it can be considered that PbTiO3/TiO2 NFs can be used as one of the candidate materials to improve the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers (NFs) are added into the photoanode of DSSC as an additional layer. g-C3N4 is prepared by high-temperature calcination. Through sol–gel method and electrospinning technology, we prepare g-C3N4/TiO2 NFs. The material properties of g-C3N4/TiO2 NFs are characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). From the measurements of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE), and ${J}-{V}$ characteristics, the performances of the DSSCs are analyzed, including impedance parameters, short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and photoelectric conversion efficiency. The results show that the addition of g-C3N4/TiO2 NFs is able to enhance the photovoltaic performance. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the modified DSSC is increased to 5.22%. Compared with the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSC without modification (4.11%), it is an increase of 27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]