Optimizing Deposition Parameters of DSSCs Composed of Blue TiO2

Here, a simple deposition process is developed to fabricate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) covering a titanium dioxide (TiO2) compact layer successfully produced by either soaking into a blue titania solution or by spin coating method. The components of photoanode of the devices were sintered at 500 °C with/without employing a preheating treatment. The effects of the method to obtain the compact layer and preheating treatment on the optical and electrical properties of the devices were examined by means of UV-Vis spectroscopy, current-voltage measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results suggested that these experimental conditions have a vital role in determining photoelectric conversion performance of the devices. Accordingly, considerably improved power conversion efficiency of 4.54% was found in case of employing a compact layer soaked into the solution and preheated, which is exceptionally greater than that of the power conversion efficiency of 0.35% of the device having a spin-coated compact layer and continuous coating of the mesoporous layer without preheating. A significant increase in the efficiency has been accomplished due to the improved electron lifetime. These results demonstrated the critical importance of deposition conditions to evolve the performance of DSSCs.