Layer-by-layer self-assembly of TiO2 hierarchical nanosheets with exposed {001} facets as an effective bifunctional layer for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Layer-by-layer self-assembled TiO2 hierarchical nanosheets with exposed {001} facets have been successfully fabricated via a simple one-step solvothermal reaction. The anatase TiO2 layer-by-layer hierarchical nanosheets (TiO2 LHNs) exhibit favorable light scattering effect and large surface area, owing to their layer-by-layer hierarchical structure. When applied to the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the layer-by-layer hierarchical structure with exposed {001} facet could effectively enhance light harvesting and dye adsorption, followed by increasing the photocurrent of DSSCs.

Upconversion induced enhancement of dye sensitized solar cells based on core-shell structured β-NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+@SiO2 nanoparticles.

Upconversion materials have been employed as energy relay materials in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to broaden the range of light absorption. However, the origin of the enhancements can be induced by both upconversion and size-dependent light scattering effects. To clarify the role of the upconversion material in the photoelectrode of DSCs, an upconversion induced device was realized here, which has the size-dependent light scattering effect eliminated via the application of NaYF4:Er(3+), Yb(3+)@SiO2 upconversion nanoparticles (β-NYEY@SiO2 UCNPs).

Highly transparent carbon counter electrode prepared via an in situ carbonization method for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells.

A facile in situ carbonization method was demonstrated to prepare the highly transparent carbon counter electrode (CE) with good mechanical stability for bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The optical and electrochemical properties of carbon CEs were dramatically affected by the composition and concentration of the precursor. The well-optimized carbon CE exhibited high transparency and sufficient catalytic activity for I3(-) reduction.

Effects of bis(imidazolium) molten salts with different substituents of imidazolium cations on the performance of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Bis(imidazolium) iodides (bis-Im(+)I(-)s) are synthesized with different substituents and used as electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Three kinds of low-volatility electrolytes are prepared by using 1,1'-methylene bis(3-imidazolium) diiodide (MIDI), 1,1'-methylene bis(3-n-methylimidazolium) diiodide (MMIDI), and 1,1'-methylene-bis(3-n-ethylimidazolium) diiodide (MEIDI) as the iodide sources. The effects of these substituents on the photovoltaic performance of the cells are investigated.

Highly uniform, bifunctional core/double-shell-structured β-NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+ @ SiO2@TiO2 hexagonal sub-microprisms for high-performance dye sensitized solar cells.

Highly uniform core/double-shell-structured β-NaYF4:Er(3+),Yb(3+)@SiO2@TiO2 hexagonal sub-microprisms are prepared and employed in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) internally. This work paves a facile way to enable the most-efficient upconversion material (β-NaYF4:Er(3+),Yb(3+)) to be used as scattering and upconversion centers in the photoelectrode of a DSC.

Direct tri-constituent co-assembly of highly ordered mesoporous carbon counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Controlling over ordered porosity by self-assembly is challenging in the area of materials science. Materials with highly ordered aperture are favorable candidates in catalysis and energy conversion device. Here we describe a facile process to synthesize highly ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) by direct tri-constituent co-assembly method, which uses resols as the carbon precursor, tri-block copolymer F127 as the soft template and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the inorganic precursor.

Synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance and constructed hierarchical TiO2 spheres for dye-sensitized solar cells.

We demonstrate a strategy for incorporating plasmon resonant metallic nanoparticles in the construction of hierarchical TiO(2) spheres. Localized electric fields can be produced by the addition of Au nanoparticles, which can excite dye molecules more effectively than incident far-field light. The synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance with constructed TiO(2) nanostructures has been investigated, and was confirmed by optical spectroscopy, J-V characteristics, EIS analysis and OCVD measurements.