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Boosting the efficiency of aqueous solar cells: A photoelectrochemical estimation on the effectiveness of TiCl4 treatment

Boosting the efficiency of aqueous solar cells: A photoelectrochemical estimation on the effectiveness of TiCl4 treatment

Authors :
G. Piana
Claudio Gerbaldi
Michael Grätzel
Guido Viscardi
Simone Galliano
Giulia Giacona
Federico Bella
Claudia Barolo
Source :
Electrochimica Acta. 302:31-37
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2019.

Abstract

Increasing the photocurrent is one of the main objectives of the current research on aqueous photovoltaic cells, the emerging green, alternative technology in solar energy conversion devices. In such a scenario, this work deals with the thorough understanding of the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical effects of the TiCl4 treatment onto TiO2 electrodes, a well-known process for traditional dye-sensitized solar cells, and here, to our knowledge, investigated for the first time in water-based systems. From the quantitative evaluation of the photoelectrochemical parameters, it emerges that the TiCl4 treatment beneficially affects the photovoltaic parameters: it doubles the sunlight conversion efficiency values, inhibits the recombination of photogenerated electrons with oxidized redox mediator ions, and ensures stable and reproducible cell performance at the laboratory scale. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Details

ISSN :
00134686
Volume :
302
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Electrochimica Acta
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....925af2d641908757b5e3efab40a6fd5e
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2019.01.180