10% Efficiency Dye-sensitized Solar Cells Using P25 TiO2 Nanocrystalline Electrode Prepared by a Bead-milling Method

Abstract

Abstract Dispersions of TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared from titania powder (P25, Degussa) using a bead-mill method. The dispersion was controlled by the mixing time and was observed using dynamic laser-light scattering. TiO2 screen-printing pastes were prepared from the TiO2 dispersions for application as photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The coated nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a haze meter. The shape and crystallinity of the TiO2 nanoparticles were not changed, but the transparency was improved by the bead-milling process. However, aluminum contamination on the TiO2 surface was found to increase with bead-milling time. A TiO2 paste prepared from an optimized dispersion was used to fabricate a DSSC with 10% photoenergy-conversion efficiency.