• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.445.1-445.1
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been widely investigated as a next-generation solar cell because of their simple structure and low manufacturing cost. The $TiO_2$ film with thickness of $8{\sim}10{\mu}m$, which consists of nanoparticles, acts as both a scaffold with a high surface-to-volume ratio for the dye loading and a pathway to remove the electrons. However, charge carriers have to move across many particle boundaries by a hopping mechanism. So, one dimensional nanostructures such as nanotubes, nanorods and nanowires should improve charge carrier transportation by providing a facile direct electron pathway and lowering the diffusion resistance. However, the efficiencies of DSSCs using one dimensional nanostructures are less than the $TiO_2$ nanoparticle-based DSSCs. In this work, the patterned $TiO_2$ film with thickness of $3{\mu}m$ was deposited using photolithography process to decrease of electron pathway and increase of surface area and transmittance of $TiO_2$ films. Properties of the patterned $TiO_2$ films were investigated by various analysis method such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-visible spectrophotometer.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.124-129
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are considered as promising alternatives to conventional photovoltaic device. However, commercialization of the DSSCs is restricted due to the low efficiency. In this paper, highly efficiency DSSCs were fabricated by the adding the TBA to the $TiO_2$ paste. $TiO_2$ photoanode added 0.2 M TBA in DSSCs are shown the best efficiency of 9.14 %. This result ascribed to improvement of the connection between the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles by the addition of the optimized amount TBA. The morphology of the photoanode was observed by FE-SEM. Further investigation about the kinetics of the electrochemical processes are performed by the EIS analysis. Longest diffusion length was obtained in case adding 0.2 M of TBA to $TiO_2$ paste, which was matched well with the improved efficiency.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1220-1224
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• 2012

This study examines the photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) when nanometer-sized Y (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mol %)-incorporated $TiO_2$ prepared using a solvothermal method is utilized as the working electrode material. The photoelectric properties of the Y-$TiO_2$ used in DSSCs were studied by frequency-resolved modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy. The recombination was much slower in the Y-$TiO_2$-based DSSCs than in the pure $TiO_2$-assembled DSSC. Compared to that using pure $TiO_2$, the energy conversion efficiency was enhanced considerably by the application of Y-$TiO_2$ in the DSSCs to approximately 6.08% for 0.5 mol % Y-$TiO_2$.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.75.1-75.1
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• 2010

Dye sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) have been extensively studied due to their various advantages such as low production cost, colorful design, and eco-friendly process. Long optical path length is one of the most effective method to improve light harvest efficiency for DSSCs. Multi-layered $TiO_2$ nano-structured film with scattering layer has been studied to generate scattering effect by many researchers. It was expected that the difference of refractive index between $TiO_2$ particles and glass frit would generate the light scattering effect and provide the long optical path length. Therefore, to enhance the scattering effect, the frits of $Bi_2O_3-B_2O_3$-ZnO glass system that has the different refractive index were added to $TiO_2$ pastes in this study. First of all, the absorbance and haze factor of $TiO_2$ electrode with dyes and the refractive index of glass frit and $TiO_2$ were measured, respectively. To study the effect of frits, the efficiencies of DSSCs added glass frit and without glass frit were compared. Our results showed slightly higher efficiency with the different absorbance and haze factor of $TiO_2$ and glass frit. It was considered that the light scattering effect would be improved with adding frits to $TiO_2$ paste. Our preliminary studies will be useful for increasing efficiency of DSSCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.483-487
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• 2010

To fabricate $TiO_2$ nanoparticle-based dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) at a low-temperature, DSSCs were fabricated using hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticles composites for the electron transport layer around a low-temperature ($200^{\circ}C$). ZnO nanoparticle with 20 nm and 60 nm diameter were used and Pt was deposited as a counter electrode on ITO/glass using an RF magnetron sputtering. We investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle concentration in hydropolymer and ZnO nanoparticle solution on the photoconversion performance of the low temperature fabricated ($200^{\circ}C$) DSSCs. Using cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20 bipyridy1-4,40 dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) bis-tetrabutylammonium (N719) dye as a sensitizer, the corresponding device performance and photo-physical characteristics are investigated through conventional physical characterization techniques. The effect of thickness of the ZnO photoelectrode and the morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles with the variations of hydropolymer to ZnO ratio on the photoconversion performance are also investigated. The morphology of the ZnO layer after sintering was examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs showed an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of about 7% higher than that of 20 nm ZnO nanoparticle DSSCs. The maximum parameters of the short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$), the open circuit potential ($V_{oc}$), fill factor (ff), and efficiency ($\eta$) in the 60 nm ZnO nanoparticle-based DSSC devices were 4.93 mA/$cm^2$, 0.56V, 0.40, and 1.12%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.571-575
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• 2005

In order to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), $TiO_2$ electrode screen-printed on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate was sintered in variation with different temperature$(350\;to\;550^{\circ}C)$. $TiO_2$ electrode on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass was assembled with Pt counter electrode on FTO glass. I-V properties of DSSCs were measured under solar simulator. Also, effect of sintering temperature on surface morphology of $TiO_2$ films was investigated to understand correlation between its surface morphology and sintering temperature. Such surface morphology was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Below sintering temperature of $500^{\circ}C$, efficiency of DSSCs was relatively lower due to lower open circuit voltage. Oppositely, above sintering temperature of $500^{\circ}C$, efficiency of DSSCs was relatively higher due to higher open circuit voltage. In both cases, lower fill factor (FF) was observed. However, at sintering temperature of $500^{\circ}C$, both efficiency and fill factor of DSSCs were mutually complementary, enhancing highest fill factor and efficiency. Such results can be explained in comparison of surface morphology with schematic diagram of energy states on the $TiO_2$ electrode surface. Consequently, it was considered that optimum sintering temperature of a-terpinol included $TiO_2$ paste is at $500^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.160-160
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• 2013

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted much attention because of their moderate light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, easy fabrication, and low cost. At present, platinum (Pt) is used as a counter electrode in DSSCs. However, it is found that Pt dissolves in iodide electrolyte solutions and creates chemical compound such as PtI4 and H2PtI6. Carbon based materials are one of candidates for a counter electrode of DSSCs. We prepare two types of graphite oxides by different chemical treatments; original graphite oxide, hydrazine treated graphite oxide. Each graphite oxide and magnesium nitrate dispersed in deionized water are prepared as solutions for electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Each graphite oxide electrode is deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate by EPD method. Structural and electrochemical properties of each electrode are investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.42-47
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• 2016

Increasing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by the fabrication of new photoelectrodes (PEs) is an important challenge. This study examined the photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs composed of a $TiO_2$ PE with $WO_3$ nanoparticles (NPs). A number of PEs with the same thickness but different concentrations of $WO_3$ NPs in the $TiO_2PE$ were prepared. The morphology and structural properties of the prepared PEs were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The effects of the $WO_3$ NPs mixing concentration on the efficiency of DSSCs were investigated under simulated solar light irradiation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2015

In this study, we propose Ti hole pattern structure on the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) less dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using the lift-off process to improve the low light transmittance and low efficiency caused by opaque Ti electrode. The formation of Ti hole patterns make it possible to move the dye adsorption and electrolyte. The DSSCs with Ti hole patterns showed a higher photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) than those with general structure by 11.1%. As a result, The Ti hole pattern structure can be improved to increase the light absorption of the dyes and PCE of the TCO-less DSSCs is also increased.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2013

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a unique semiconductor material that exhibits numerous useful properties for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and other applications. Various thin-film growth techniques have been used to produce nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes, nanotips, nanosheets, nanobelts and terapods of ZnO. These unique nanostructures unambiguously demonstrate that ZnO probably has the richest family of nanostructures among all materials, both in structures and in properties. The nanostructures could have novel applications in solar cells, optoelectronics, sensors, transducers and biomedical sciences. This article reviews the various nanostructures of ZnO grown by various techniques and their application in DSSCs. The application of ZnO nanowires, nanorods in DSSCs became outstanding, providing a direct pathway to the anode for photo-generated electrons thereby suppressing carrier recombination. This is a novel characteristic which increases the efficiency of ZnO based dye-sensitized solar cells.