• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.344-348
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• 2011

A layer of $TiO_2$ thin film less than ~200nm in thickness, as a blocking layer, was deposited by 13.56 MHz radio frequency magnetron sputtering method directly onto the anode electrode to be isolated from the electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). This is to prevent the electrons from back-transferring from the electrode to the electrolyte ($I^-/{I_3}^-$). The presented DSCs were fabricated with working electrode of F:$SnO_2$(FTO) glass coated with blocking $TiO_2$ layer, dye-attached nanoporous $TiO_2$ layer, gel electrolyte and counter electrode of Pt-deposited FTO glass. The effects of blocking layer were studied with respect to impedance and conversion efficiency of the cells. The, electrochemical impedances of DSCs using this electrode were $R_1$: 13.9, $R_2$: 15.0, $R_3$: 10.9 and $R_h$: $82{\Omega}$. The $R_2$ impedance related by electron movement from nanoporous $TiO_2$ to TCO showed lower than that of normal DSCs. The photo-conversion efficiency of prepared DSCs was 5.97% ($V_{oc}$: 0.75V, $J_{sc}$: 10.5 mA/$cm^2$, ff: 0.75) and approximately 1% higher than general DSCs sample.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.26-32
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• 2021

The photovoltaic properties and microstructure changes were observed while perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a fabricated carbon electrode were formed using the following annealing processes: hot-plate, oven, and rapid thermal annealing (RTA). Perovskite solar cells with a glass/FTO/compact TiO2/meso TiO2/meso ZrO2/carbon structure were prepared. The photovoltaic properties and microstructure changes in the PSCs were analyzed using a solar simulator, optical microscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. An analysis of the photovoltaic properties revealed outstanding properties when RTA was applied to the cells. Microstructure analysis showed that perovskite was formed locally on the carbon electrode surface when hot-plate and oven annealing were applied. On the other hand, PSC with RTA showed a flat surface without extra perovskite agglomeration. Denser perovskite formed on the porous carbon electrode layer with RTA showed superior photovoltaic properties. These results suggest that the RTA process might be appropriate for the massive production of carbon electrode PSCs considering the processing time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.193-193
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• 2012

In thin film silicon solar cells, p-i-n structure is adopted instead of p/n junction structure as in wafer-based Si solar cells. PECVD is the most widely used thin film deposition process for a-Si:H or ${\mu}c$-Si:H solar cells. Single-chamber PECVD system for a-Si:H solar cell manufacturing has the advantage of lower initial investment and maintenance cost for the equipment. However, in single-chamber PECVD system, doped and intrinsic layers are deposited in one plasma chamber, which inevitably impedes sharp dopant profiles at the interfaces due to the contamination from previous deposition process. The cross-contamination between layers is a serious drawback of single-chamber PECVD system. In this study, a new plasma process to solve the cross-contamination problem in a single-chamber PECVD system was suggested. In order to remove the deposited B inside of the plasma chamber during p-layer deposition, a high RF power was applied right after p-layer deposition with SiH4 gas off, which is then followed by i-layer, n-layer, and Ag top-electrode deposition without vacuum break. In addition to the p-i interface control, various interface control techniques such as FTO-glass pre-annealing in O2 environment to further reduce sheet resistance of FTO-glass, thin layer of TiO2 deposition to prevent H2 plasma reduction of FTO layer, and hydrogen plasma treatment prior to n-layer deposition, etc. were developed. The best initial solar cell efficiency using single-chamber PECVD system of 10.5% for test cell area of 0.2 $cm^2$ could be achieved by adopting various interface control methods.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.42.2-42.2
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• 2011

$TiO_2$ films were modified by adding a glass frit as a light scattering particle and applied to an anode electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to enhance the adhesion between $TiO_2$ and fluorine doped transparent oxide (FTO). Low melting point glass frits at contents of (3 to 7wt%) were added to the nano crystalline $TiO_2$ films. The light scattering properties, photovoltaic properties and microstructures of the photo electrodes were examined to determine the role of the low glass transition temperature ($T_g$) glass frit. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method and scratch test were conducted to support the results. The DSSC with the $TiO_2$ film containing 3wt% low Tg glass frit showed optimal performance (5.1%, energy conversion efficiency) compared to the $TiO_2$-based one. The photocurrent density slightly decreased by adding 3wt% of the frit due to its large size and non conductivity. However, the decrease of current density followed by the decrease of electron transfer due to the large frit in $TiO_2$ electrode was compensated by the scattering effect, high surface area and reduced the electron transfer impedance at the electrolyte-dye-$TiO_2$ interface. The stability of the photo electrodes was improved by the frit, which chemically promoted the sintering of $TiO_2$ at relatively low temperature ($450^{\circ}C$).

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1077-1081
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• 2019

Lights that enter the surface of a solar cell cannot be absorbed inside all of the solar cells, and some of it is reflected off the surface of the substrate, resulting in loss. Because of this, many studies are underway to reduce reflective losses on the surface of substrates or to steam the generated charge inside the solar cell. In this paper, surface treatment for forming a rough surface by wet etching the surface of a glass substrate is advanced, and structural characteristics of the rough surface are analyzed. Then, spectral characteristics by changing the angle of the glass substrate to which light enters the company are analyzed. When the light entering the company is investigated on a etched surface, it is confirmed that the probability of re-absorbing the light inside the glass substrate by multiple reflection is increased. When entering the light while changing the angle of the glass substrate, the transmission and reflection performance of the light are not changed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.262-263
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• 2005

Pt counter electrode based on flexible metal for dye-sensitized solar cells(DSCs) has been investigated. Photovoltaic structures on lightweight substrates have several advantages over the heavy glass-based structures in both terrestrial and space applications. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate electrochemical properties of Pt counter electrode both FTO glass and SUS sheet substrate. The DSCs composed of the counter electrode based on a stainless steel substrate has obtained conversion efficiencies comparable to that based on the conducting glass. The counter electrode based on the stainless steel substrate has the merit of improving the fill factor and conversion efficiency of the DSCs by reducing its internal resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.259-259
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• 2011

염료감응형 태양전지(Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells:DSSC)는 환경 친화적이며, 저가의 공정에 대한 가능성으로 기존의 고가의 결정질 실리콘 태양전지의 경제적인 대안으로 각광을 받고 있다. 최근 염료감응형 태양전지는 투명 전도성 산화막(Transparent Conducting Oxide : TCO)으로 사용되는 Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO)가 증착된 유리기판 위에 주로 제작된다. FTO는 낮은 비저항과 가시광선 영역에서 높은 투과도를 가지는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성을 갖지만, 비교적 공정이 까다로운 Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)법으로 제조하며, 전체 공정비용의 60%를 차지하는 높은 생산단가로 인해 현재 FTO를 대체할 재료개발 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그 중 ZnO (Zinc Oxide)는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 비교적 저렴한 가격으로 새로운 TCO로써 주목받고 있다. ZnO는 넓은 energy band gap (3.4 [eV])의 육방정계 울자이트(hexagonal wurtzite) 결정 구조를 가지는II-VI족 n형 반도체 물질이며, III족 금속원소인 Al, Ga 및 In 등의 불순물을 첨가하면 TCO로서 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 안정성을 나타낸다. 이들 물질중 $Zn^{2+}$ (0.060 nm)의 이온반경과 유사한 $Ga^{2+}$0.062 nm) 이온이 ZnO의 격자반경을 최소화 시킬 수 있다는 장점으로 최근 주목 받고 있다. 하지만 Ga-doped ZnO (GZO)의 경우 DSC에 사용되는 루테늄 계열의 산성 염료 하에 장시간 두면 표면이 파괴되는 문제가 발생하며, $TiO_2$ paste를 Printing 후 열처리하는 과정에서도 박막의 파괴가 발생할 수 있다. 이를 방지하기 위해 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 GZO 투명전극 위에 증착하였다. 또한, $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 적용한 GZO 박막을 전면전극으로 이용하여 DSC를 제작하여 효율을 확인하였다. 2wt%의 $Ga_2O_3$가 도핑된 ZnO 박막은 20mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)에 의해 성장되었고, $TiO_2$박막은 Ti 금속을 타겟으로 이용하여 30mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 증착되었다. Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)을 이용한 박막 분석 결과 $TiO_2$가 증착된 GZO 박막의 경우 표면 파괴가 일어나지 않았다. Solar Simulator을 이용하여 I-V특성 측정결과 상용 FTO를 사용한 DSC 수준의 효율을 나타내었다. 이에 따라 Pulsed Laser Deposition을 이용해 제작된 GZO 기판은 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 이용하여 표면 파괴를 방지할 수 있었으며, 이는 향후 염료감응형 태양전지의 투명전극에 적용 가능 할 것으로 판단된다.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.306-313
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• 2014

Nanoporous $TiO_2$ films are commonly used as working electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). So far, there have been attempts to synthesize films with various $TiO_2$ nanostructures to increase the power-conversion efficiency. In this work, vertically aligned rutile $TiO_2$ nanorods were grown on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) glass by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by deposition of an anatase $TiO_2$ film. This new method of anatase $TiO_2$ growth avoided the use of a seed layer that is usually required in hydrothermal synthesis of $TiO_2$ electrodes. The dense anatase $TiO_2$ layer was designed to behave as the electron-generating layer, while the less dense rutile nanorods acted as electron-transfer pathwaysto the FTO glass. In order to facilitate the electron transfer, the rutile phase nanorods were treated with a $TiCl_4$ solution so that the nanorods were coated with the anatase $TiO_2$ film after heat treatment. Compared to the electrode consisting of only rutile $TiO_2$, the power-conversion efficiency of the rutile-anatase hybrid $TiO_2$ electrode was found to be much higher. The total thickness of the rutile-anatase hybrid $TiO_2$ structures were around $4.5-5.0{\mu}m$, and the highest power efficiency of the cell assembled with the structured $TiO_2$ electrode was around 3.94%.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 2012

A TCO-less ruthenium (Ru) catalytic layer on glass substrate instead of conventional Ru/TCO/ glass substrate was assessed as counter electrode (CE) material in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by examining the effect of the Ru thickness on the DSSC performance. Ru films with different thicknesses (34, 46, 69, and 90 nm) were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on glass substrates to replace both existing catalyst and electrode layer. In order to make our comparison, we also prepared an Ru catalytic layer by a similar method on FTO/glass substrate. Finally, we prepared the $0.45cm^2$ DSSC device the properties of the DSSCs were examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and current-voltage (I-V) method. CV measurements revealed an increase in catalytic activity with increasing film thickness. The charge transfer resistance at the interface between the electrolyte and Rudecreased with increasing Ru thickness. I-V results showed that the energy conversion efficiency increased up to 1.96%. Our results imply that TCO-less Ru/glass might perform as both catalyst and electrode layer when it is used in counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• 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.