• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.356-360
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• 2007

Recently, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of nanoporous $TiO_2$, light-sensitive dyes, electrolytes, and counter electrode have been received much attention. Nanostructured particles with higher surface area for the higher adsorption of Ru (II) dye are required to increase the quantity of light absorption. Also, it has been reported that the key factor to achieve high energy conversion efficiency in the photoelectrode of DSSC is the heat treatment of $TiO_2$ paste with acid addition. In this work, we investigated the influence of acid treatment of $TiO_2$ solar cell on the photovoltaic performance of DSSC. The working electrodes fabricated in this work were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). In addition, the influence of nanostructured photoelectrode fabricated with the acid-treated paste on the energy conversion efficiency was investigated on the basis of photocurrent-potential curves. It was found that the influence of acid-treated paste on the photovoltaic efficiency was significant.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.4109-4112
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• 2011

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2013

In this study, short-circuit preventive layer (blocking layer) was deposited between conductive transparent electrode and porous $TiO_2$ film in the DSSCs. As blocking layer, we selected the metal-oxide such as $TiO_2$, $Nb_2O_5$ and ZnO. The sheet resistance with each different blocking layers were 18 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the $TiO_2$, 10 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the $Nb_2O_5$ and 8 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the ZnO, while the RMS (Root Mean Square) roughness value of DSSCs were 39.61 nm for the $TiO_2$, 41.84 nm for the $Nb_2O_5$ and 36.14 nm for the ZnO respectively. From the results of photocurrent-voltage curves, a sputtered $Nb_2O_5$ blocking layer showed higher performance on 2.64% of photo-electrochemical properties. The maximum of conversion efficiency which was achieved under 1 sun irradiation by depositing the blocking layer increased up to 0.56%.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.231-244
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• 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by modified Hummer's method to produce reduced graphene oxide (RGO) following standard thermal and chemical reduction processes. Prepared RGO colloids were utilized to fabricate RGO films over glass and FTO coated glass substrates through drop-coating. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effect of reduction degree on the optical and electrical properties of the RGO film. We demonstrate that both the reduction process (thermal and chemical) produce RGO films of similar optical and electrical behaviors. However, the RGO films fabricated using chemically reduced GO colloid render better performance in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), when they are used as counter electrodes (CEs). It has been demonstrated that RGO films of optimum thicknesses fabricated using RGO colloids prepared using lower concentration of hydrazine reducer have better catalytic performance in DSSCs due to a better catalytic interaction with redox couple. The better catalytic performance of the RGO films fabricated at optimal hydrazine concentration is associated to their higher available surface area and lower grain boundaries.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.319-319
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• 2010

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on plastic substrates have attracted much attention mainly due to extensive applications such as ubiquitous powers, as well as the practical reasons such as light weight, flexibility and roll-to-roll process. However, conventional high temperature fabrication technology for glass based DSSCs, cannot be applied to flexible devices because polymer substrates cannot withstand the heat more than $150^{\circ}C$. Therefore, low temperature fabrication process, without using a polymer binder or thermal sintering, was required to fabricate necked $TiO_2$. In this presentation, we proposed polymer-inorganic composite photoelectrode, which can be fabricated at low temperature. The concept of composite electrode takes an advantage of utilizing elastic properties of polymers, such as good impact strength. As an elastic material, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is selected because of its optical transparency and good adhesive properties. In this work, a polymer-inorganic composite electrode was constructed on FTO/glass substrate under low temperature sintering condition, from the mixture of PMMA and $TiO_2$ colloidal solution. The effect of PMMA composition on the photovoltaic property was investigated. Then, the enhanced mechanical stability of this composite electrode on ITO/PEN substrate was also demonstrated from bending test.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.963-968
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• 2009

Liquid crystal (LC; E7 and/or ML-0249)-embedded, poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-co-HFP)-based, polymer electrolytes were prepared for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The electrolytes contained 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (PMII), tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI), and iodine ($I_2$), which participate in the $I_3^-/I^-$ redox couple. The incorporation of photochemically stable PVdF-co-HFP in the DSSCs created a stable polymer electrolyte that resisted leakage and volatilization. DSSCs, with liquid crystal(LC)-embedded PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolytes between the amphiphilic ruthenium dye N719 absorbed to the nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ photoanode and the Pt counter electrode, were fabricated. These DSSCs displayed enhanced redox couple reduction and reduced charge recombination in comparison to that fabricated from the conventional PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolyte. The behavior of the polymer electrolyte was improved by the addition of optimized amounts of plasticizers, such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC). The significantly increased short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$, $14.60\;mA/cm^2$) and open-circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$, 0.68 V) of these DSSCs led to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.42% and a fill factor of 0.65 under a standard light intensity of $100\;mW/cm^2$ irradiation of AM 1.5 sunlight. A DSSC fabricated by using E7-embedded PVdF-co-HFP-based polymer electrolyte exhibited a maximum incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 50%.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.469-472
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• 2012

Intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy and intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy were investigated to measure the dynamic response of charge transfer and recombination in the standard, $TiCl_4$-treated and the combined scattering layer electrode dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). IMPS and IMVS provided transit time ($\tau_n$), lifetime ($\tau_r$), diffusion coefficient ($D_n$) and effective diffusion length ($L_n$). These expressions are derived that generation, collection, and recombination of electrons in a thin layer nanocrystalline DSSC under conditions of steady illumination and with a superimposed small amplitude modulation. In this experimental, IMPS/IMVS showed that the main effect of $TiCl_4$ treatment is to suppress the recombination of photogenerated electrons, thereby extending their lifetime. And the Diffusion coefficient of combined scattering layer electrode is $6.10{\times}10^{-6}$ higher than that of the others, resulting in longer diffusion length.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.119.1-119.1
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• 2011

Since Gratzel et al. reported the first efficient dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSCs) in 1991, they have attracted much attention due to their relatively high power conversion efficiency and potentially low cost production. To date, high performance and good stability of DSSC based on Ru-dyes as a photosensitizer had been widely addressed in the literatures. However, the Ru-dyes are facing the problem of manufacturing costs and environmental issues. In order to obtain even cheaper photosensitizers for DSSC, the metal-free organic photosensitizers are strongly desired. The metal-free organic dyes offer superior molar extinction coefficients, low cost, and diverse molecular structures as compared to the conventional Ru-dyes, In this work, we have studied on the synthesis and characterization of the organo dendritic dyes containing different number of electron acceptor moieties in a molecule.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.227-228
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• 2012

In interfaces between carbon black or Pt and FTO glass in dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrodes, a marginal resistant channel for electrons, we tried to improve the connection by modifying the sintering process. A stepwise sintering process for carbon black and Pt counter electrodes was applied and its effect on power conversion efficiency was studied. Power conversion efficiencies of built-in DSSC made by a one-step sintering process with carbon black and Pt counter electrodes were about 5.01% and 5.02%, respectively. Cells made with the stepwise sintering process were 5.96% and 6.21%, respectively, indicating an 20% improvement. Fill factor (FF) increased, and it was them main reason for the power conversion efficiency improvement. Step wise sintering increased the adhesion of the interface and reduced the film thickness and surface roughness. As a result, the resistivity of the counter electrode and EIS impedance of DSSCs decreased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.463-463
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have generated a strong interest in the development of solid-state devices owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that allow light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. Several attempts have been made to substitute the liquid electrolyte in the original solar cells by using (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9-9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) that act as hole conductor [1]. Although efficiencies above 3% have been reached by several groups, here the major challenging is limited photoelectrode thickness ($2{\mu}m$), which is very low due to electron diffusion length (Ln) for spiro-OMeTAD ($4.4{\mu}m$) [2]. In principle, the $TiO_2$ layer can be thicker than had been thought previously. This has important implications for the design of high-efficiency solid-state DSSCs. In the present study, we have fabricated 3-D Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) by growing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire (NWs) arrays via a vapor transport method [3] and mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP)-based photoelectrodes were prepared using doctor blade method. Finally optimized light-harvesting solid-state DSSCs is made using 3-D TCO where electron life time is controlled the recombination rate through fast charge collection and also ITO NWs length can be controlled in the range of over $2{\mu}m$ and has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Structural analyses by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the ITO NWs formed single crystal oriented [100] direction. Also to compare the charge collection properties of conventional NPs based solid-state DSSCs with ITO NWs based solid-state DSSCs, we have studied intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and transient open circuit voltages. As a result, above $4{\mu}m$ thick ITO NWs based photoelectrodes with Z907 dye shown the best performing device, exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 7.21 mA cm-2 under simulated solar emission of 100 mW cm-2 associated with an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.80 %. Finally, we achieved the efficiency of 7.5% by applying a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite sensitizer.