ENHANCED EFFICIENCY OF TIO_2 PHOTOANODES MODIFIED WITH WO_(3-x) NANOMATERIALS IN DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS

摘要

In the present study, non-stoichiometric tungsten oxide (WO_(3-x)) nanomaterials synthesized by a modified plasma arc gas condensation technique were added into anatase titanium oxide (a-TiO_2) which was used as photoanode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The WO_(3-x)/a-TiO_2 sample was characterized by FESEM, XRD, HRTEM, XPS and UV-visible spectra techniques. The photovoltaic efficiency of the DSSC fabricated by WO_(3-x)/a-TiO_2 was measured under the simulated solar light system with AM1.5 filter. The results showed the enhanced cell performance by incorporation of WO_(3-x) and the highest efficiency acquired is 6.16% for DSSC fabricated by 10wt% WO_(3-x)/TiO_2 sample. The possible explanation for the efficiency enhancement can be attributed to the additive of WO_(3-x) nanomaterials to form the defects in the WO_(3-x)/TiO_2 lattices and the imperfect structures of WO_3, accelerating the electron transport rate.