A Study on the Effects of Siloxane Derivatives as Co-adsorbents on the Performance of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

AbstractIn this study, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or phenyltriethoxysilane (PTEOS) is used as the co-adsorbent with N719 dye to prepare the photoanode for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), and its effects on the photovoltaic performances of the DSSC are investigated. It is found that both the short-circuit current and the open-circuit voltage of the DSSC are increased with the co-adsorption of TEOS or PTEOS on the mesoporous TiO2 photoanode. Electrochemical impedance spectra indicate that the electron lifetime is improved. The energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC is promoted from 4.55% to 4.97% or 5.10%, respectively, when TEOS or PTEOS is co-adsorbed with dye on the TiO2 photoanode