Popcorn-shaped nanocrystallites double efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells

June 1, 2008
Inexpensive and efficient solar cells are the “holy grail” in photovoltaic research, and a new type of film composed of tiny balls may significantly improve efficiency without increasing cost.

Inexpensive and efficient solar cells are the “holy grail” in photovoltaic research, and a new type of film composed of tiny balls may significantly improve efficiency without increasing cost. The dye-sensitized solar-cell device incorporates hierarchically structured zinc oxide (ZnO) films as the photoelectrodes, which enhances energy-conversion efficiency. The 10-µm-thick film uses a popcorn-ball design consisting of spheres of grains just 15 nm across, clumped into balls with diameters from several tens to several hundreds of nanometers. The design effectively scatters light while providing a porous, large internal surface area.

To make the polydisperse ZnO aggregates, materials-science professor Guozhong Cao’s group at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) combined zinc salt in a polyol medium at 160ºC and stirred vigorously for eight hours. The conversion efficiency of the solar cells was 6.2%double the previous value for cells using structured ZnO films. The team plans to transfer the technique to titanium oxide, which may take the efficiency of DSCCs to new levels. Contact Guozhong Cao at [email protected].

Sponsored Recommendations

Motion Scan and Data Collection Methods for Electro-Optic System Testing

April 10, 2024
Learn how different scanning patterns and approaches can be used in measuring an electro-optic sensor performance, by reading our whitepaper here!

Case Study: Medical Tube Laser Processing

March 28, 2024
To enhance their cardiovascular stent’s precision, optimize throughput and elevate part quality, a renowned manufacturer of medical products embarked on a mission to fabricate...

Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series

March 19, 2024
IDEX Health & Science sets a new standard with our Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series fluorescence microscope imaging systems. Access superior-quality optics with off-the-shelf...

Spatial Biology

March 19, 2024
Spatial Biology refers to the field that integrates spatial information into biological research, allowing for the study of biological systems in their native spatial context....

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!