Photoelectrodes modification by N doping for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: TiO2 doping has been widely used to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. In this paper, we study the use of N as a dopant of TiO2 in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), analyzing the effect on the photovoltaic properties of the cells based on different amounts of N doping. Results indicate that the dye absorption is increased, which would enhance the amount of photoelectron; moreover, the resistance (R 3) of the electron transport within photoelectrode and electron lifetime of it are improved by N doping. The above two reasons would lead the high short circuit current density (J sc). However, owing to the sites of recombination and severe defects introduced, the trend of dye absorption, R 3 and electron lifetime is opposite when the amount of N doping is more than 3%. Finally, we find that the optimal amount of N doing is 3%, which outstandingly increase the performance of DSSCs. The conversion efficiency of the DSSCs can be reached to 6.25% when using the 3% N-doped TiO2 photoelectrode, and this efficiency is 23.03% higher than that of the pure TiO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]