• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1165-1168
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• 2014

We prepared dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with enhanced energy conversion efficiency using open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays with a $TiO_2$ scattering layer. As compared to closed-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays, the energy conversion efficiency of the open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays was increased from 5.63% to 5.92%, which is an enhancement of 5.15%. With the $TiO_2$ scattering layer, the energy conversion efficiency was increased from 5.92% to 6.53%, which is an enhancement of 10.30%. After treating the open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays with $TiCl_4$, the energy conversion efficiency was increased from 6.53% to 6.89%, a 5.51% enhancement, which is attributed to improved light harvesting and increased dye adsorption.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.929-934
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• 2011

The adsorption kinetic study of ruthenium complex, N3, onto nanoporous titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photoanodes has been carried out by measuring dye uptake in-situ. Three simplified kinetic models including a pseudo first-order equation, pseudo second-order equation and intraparticle diffusion equation were chosen to follow the adsorption process. Kinetic parameters, rate constant, equilibrium adsorption capacities and related coefficient coefficients for each kinetic model were calculated and discussed. It was shown that the adsorption kinetics of N3 dye molecules onto porous $TiO_2$ obeys pseudo second-order kinetics with chemisorption being the rate determining step. Additionally the heterogeneous surface and the pore size distribution of porous $TiO_2$ adsorbents were also discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.172-176
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• 2009

The nature and morphology of titanium dioxide films play a significant role in determining the overall efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSCs). In this work, the preparation of nanostructured titania particles by sol-gel method (SG-$TiO_2$) and its characterization were investigated for the application of DSSCs. The samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, FE-SEM, BET and FT-IR analysis. The energy conversion efficiency of SG-$TiO_2$ was approximately 8.3 % under illumination with AM 1.5 (100 mW/$cm^2$) simulated sunlight. DSSCs made of SG-$TiO_2$ nanocrystalline films as photoanodes achieved better energy conversion efficiency compared to those prepared using commercially available Degussa P25.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.453.1-453.1
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• 2014

Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), which is commonly used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), is a promising material of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) because of advantages such as high chemical stability, high resistance, high optical transparency (>80% at 550nm), and low electrical resistivity (${\sim}10-4{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$). Especially, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been actively studied since Gratzel's research group required FTO substrate as a charge collector. When FTO substrates are used in DSSCs, photo-injected electrons may experience recombination at interface between dye-bonded semiconductor oxides ($TiO_2$) on FTO substrate and the electrolyte. To solve these problems, one is that because recombination at FTO substrate cannot be neglected, thin $TiO_2$ layer on FTO substrate as a blocking layer was introduced. The other is to control the morphology of surface on FTO substrate to reduce a loss of electrons. The structural, electrical, and optical characteristics of morphology controlled-FTO thin films as TCO materials were analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Hall Effect Measurement, and UV spectrophotometer. The performance of DSSCs fabricated with morphology controlled FTO substrates was performed using Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE). We will discuss these results in detail in Conference.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.435-436
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• 2008

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells(DSSCs) which convert incident sun light into electricity were expected to overcome global warming and depletion of fossil fuels. And it is one of study that is lately getting into the spotlight because manufacturing method is more simple and inexpensive than existing silicon solar cells. In this respect, DSSCs are in the limelight as the next generation solar cells. DSSCs are generally composed of a dye-modified $TiO_2$ photoelectrode, a Pt counter electrode, and an electrolytes containing a redox couple$(I^-/I_3^-)$. Among these elements, pt electrode were prepared by applying electric potential to FTO substrate in the $H_2PtCl_6$ solution. In this study, we report the solar cell efficiency depending on $PtCl_4$ concentration change. $PtCl_4$ concentration was 1mM, 5mM, 10mM, and 20mM, and adhered on FTO glass substrate by sintering process. When applied each $PtCl_4$ counter electrode on DSSC, the best efficiency was found at 10mM of $PtCl_4$ concentration. The catalyst promotes the movement of electron from the counter electrode to the electrolyte the higher the molarity, the better the efficiency. However, in case of 20mM, it is estimated that over-deposited $PtCl_4$ tends to restrict the movement of electron due to its bundle formation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.475-475
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• 2014

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are regarded as potential inexpensive alternatives to conventional solid-state devices. The flexible version, employing conductive-plastic-film substrates, is appealing for commercialization of DSSCs because it not only reduces the weight and cost of the device but also extends their applications. However, the need for high temperature does not permit the use of plastic-film substrate. So, development of low-temperature methods is therefore realization of flexible DSSCs. In this work, the electrophoretic deposition combined with hydrothermal treatment was employed to prepare nanocrystalline $TiO_2$ thin film at low temperature. We confirmed the prepared $TiO_2$ thin films with different voltages and deposition times in the electrophoretic deposition process. Properties of the $TiO_2$ films were investigated by various analysis method such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-visible spectrophotometer.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.424-428
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• 2008

We prepared an ionic gel polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) without leakage problem. Triiodide compound (BTDI) was synthesized by the reaction of benzene tricarbonyl trichloride with diethylene glycol monotosylate and subsequent substitution of tosylate by iodide using NaI. Bisimidazole was prepared by the reaction of imidazole with the triethylene glycol ditosylate under strongly basic condition provided by NaH. BTDI and bisimidazole dissolved in an ionic liquid were injected into the cells and permeated into the $TiO_2$ nanopores. In situ crosslinking was then carried out by heating to form a network structure of poly(imidazolium iodide), thereby converting the ionic liquid electrolytes to a gel or a quasi-solid state. A monomer (BTDI and bisimidazole) concentration in the electrolytes of as low as 30 wt% was sufficient to form a stable gel type electrolyte. The DSSCs based on the gel polymer electrolytes showed a power conversion efficiency of as high as 1.15% with a short circuit current density of $5.69\;mAcm^{-2}$, an open circuit voltage of 0.525 V, and a fill factor of 0.43.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.88.2-88.2
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• 2010

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted considerable attention on account of their high solar energy-to-conversion efficiencies and low cost processes compared to conventional p-n junction solar cells. The mechanism of DSSC is based on the injection of electrons from the photo excited dyes into the conduction band of the semiconductor electrode. The oxidized dye is reduced by the hole injection into either the hole conductor or the electrolyte. Thus, the light harvesting effect of dye plays an important role in capturing the photons and generating the electron/hole pair, as well as transferring them to the interface of the semiconductor and the electrolyte, respectively. We used the organic fluorescence materials which can absorb short wavelength light and emit longer wavelength region where dye sensitize effectively. In this work, the DSSCs were fabricated with fluorescence materials added $TiO_2$ photo-electrode which were sensitized with metal-free organic dyes. The photovoltaic performances of fluorescence aided DSSCs were compared, and the recombination dark current curves and the incident photon-to-current (IPCE) efficiencies were measured in order to characterize the effects of the additional light harvesting effect in DSSC. Electro-optical measurements were also used to optimize the fluorescence material contents on TiO2 photo-electrode surface for higher conversion efficiency (${\eta}$), fill factor (FF), open-circuit voltage (VOC) and short-circuit current (ISC). The enhanced light harvesting effect by the judicious choice/design of the fluorescence materials and sensitizing dyes permits the enhancement of photovoltaic performance of DSSC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.687-690
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• 2004

Fabrication and characterization of dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells(DSSC) consisting of spray-coated TiO2 electrode, an electrolyte containing I-/I3- redox couple, and a Pt-coated counter electrode carried out, using mainly FE-SEM and solar simulator. Also, effect of rapid thermal annealing(RTA) temperatue on I-V curves of DSSCS consisting of approximately 10m thickness and $5{\times}5mm2$ active area. No significant difference in the apparent size of TiO2 clusters was observed with increasing RTA temperature. Also, an open circuit voltage(Voc) of approximately 0.70V and a short-circuit photocurrent(Jsc) of 8 to 12mA/cm2 were observed in the TiO2 solar cell. With increasing RTA temperature upto 550oC, photocurrent density of dye-sensitized solar cells was enhanced, leading to enhancing the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells having Pt-electroplated counter electrode.