Characterization of Photoelectron Behavior of Working Electrodes with the Titanium Dioxide Window Layer in Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Porous nano crystalline $TiO_2$ is currently used as a working electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The conventional working electrode is comprised of absorption layer (particle size:~20 nm) and scattering layer (particle size:~300 nm). We inserted window layer with 10 nm particle size in order to increase transmittance and specific surface area of $TiO_2$. The electrochemical impedance spectroscope analysis was conducted to analysis characterization of the electronic behavior. The Bode phase plot and Nyquist plot were interpreted to confirm the internal resistance caused by the insertion of window layer and carrier lifetime. The photocurrent that occurred in working electrode, which is caused by rise in specific surface area, increased. Accordingly, it was found that insertion of window layer in the working electrode lead to not only effectively transmitting the light, but also increasing of specific surface area. Therefore, it was concluded that insertion of window layer contributes to high conversion efficiency of DSSCs.