Weizhen He

The growth mechanism and optical properties of ultralong ZnO nanorod arrays with a high aspect ratio by a preheating hydrothermal method

Well-aligned ultralong ZnO nanorod arrays with a length of 10 microm have been synthesized on glass substrates using a preheating hydrothermal method. The diameter of the nanorods is in the range from 50 to 80 nm, and the aspect ratio and alignment can be simply controlled by varying the preheating time. Based on the evolution of aspect ratio with preheating time, a possible growth mechanism was proposed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the nanostructures are well oriented with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the as-grown ZnO nanostructure reveals a near-band-edge (NBE) emission peak and a yellow emission, and the origin of yellow emission was confirmed to be from the absorbed hydroxyl group. The ultralong nanorod arrays made in solution have a desirable diameter, length, density and orientation for ordered nanodevice applications.

Solution-derived 40 µm vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays as photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells

Well-aligned ZnO nanowire arrays with a long length of more than 40 microm were prepared successfully by using the polyethylenimine (PEI)-assisted preheating hydrothermal method (PAPHT). Several important synthetic parameters such as PEI content, growth time, preheating time and zinc salt concentration were found to determine the growth of ultralong ZnO nanowire arrays, including length, diameter, density and alignment degree. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of as-grown ultralong ZnO nanowire arrays revealed a UV emission and a yellow emission, which was attributed to the absorbed hydroxyl group based on the peak shift after annealing in various atmospheres. The performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) increased with increasing length of ZnO nanowire arrays, which was mainly ascribed to the aggrandized photocurrent and reduced recombination loss according to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A maximum efficiency of 1.3% for a cell with a short-circuit current density (J(sc)) = 4.26 mA cm(2), open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) = 0.69 V and (fill factor) FF = 0.42 was achieved with a length of 40 microm.

Advantages of using Ti-mesh type electrodes for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

We used Ti meshes for both the photoanodes and counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to improve the flexibility and conductivity of the electrodes. These mesh type electrodes showed good transparency and high bendability when subjected to an external force. We demonstrated the advantages of cells using such electrodes compared to traditional transparent conducting oxide based electrodes and back side illuminated DSSCs, such as low sheet resistance, elevated photo-induced current and enhanced sunlight utilization. Nanotube layers of different thicknesses were investigated to determine their effect on the photovoltaic parameters of the cell. The overall efficiency of the best cells was approximately 5.3% under standard air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) solar conditions. Furthermore, the DSSCs showed an efficiency of approximately 3.15% due to the all Ti-mesh type electrodes even after illumination from the back side.

Energy harvesting of dye-sensitized solar cells assisted with Ti-mesh and phosphor materials

We used the Ti-meshes for both the photoanode and counter electrode of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to improve the flexibility and conductivity of electrodes. This mesh type electrode showed good transparency and high bendability when subjected to an external force. The overall efficiency of the best cells was approximately 5.3% under standard air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) solar condition. We also modified the TiO2 nanoparticle based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by depositing a layer of long-persistent phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ on top of the TiO2 nanoparticle layer to prepare working electrodes of DSSCs. SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ red-shifted short UV wavelengths into the main absorption range of the dye commonly used in DSSCs. The SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ layer also acted as a light-scattering layer to reduce the loss of visible light. An overall 13% improvement in the conversion efficiency of modified DSSCs was achieved due to the presence of the phosphor layer.