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Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Campus Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Advisor 1
Yun Hang Hu
Committee Member 1
Joshua M. Pearce
Committee Member 2
Shiyue Fang
Abstract
This study primarily focuses on the modification methods to promote the performance of ZnO DSSCs, which are evaluated by tuning three aspects, namely, (1) Dye loading condition, including temperature and time. (2) The electrode-heating procedure, considering the heating temperature and temperature ramping mode. (3) Zn(NO3)2 surface modification, taking into account the heating method, the Zn(NO3)2 concentration, and the soaking time. Characterization of the ZnO photoanode is performed using SEM, XRD, and electrochemical I-V testing. Low sensitization temperatures effectively inhibit the formation of the Zn2+/dye complex during the sensitization process. Besides, step heating results in a ZnO film with fewer cracks than that obtained by direct heating. Moreover, Zn(NO3)2 treatment is beneficial to the performance of DSSCs when it is combined with step heating. The optimized modification condition leads to a PCE of 4.19 %. This research provides widely applicable modification methods to improve the performance of ZnO DSSCs.
Recommended Citation
Zhao, Shu, "SURFACE MODIFICATION OF ZnO BASED DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS", Campus Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2020.