Comparative study of conventional and hybrid blocking layers for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Philipp Lellig, Martin A. Niedermeier, Monika Rawolle, Michael Meister, Frédéric Laquai, Peter Müller-Buschbaum, Jochen S. Gutmann*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

In hybrid solar cells a blocking layer between the transparent electrode and the mesoporous titanium dioxide is used to prevent short-circuits between the hole-conductor and the front electrode. The conventional approach is to use a compact film of titanium dioxide. This layer has to be of optimum thickness: it has to cover the rough surface of the anode material completely while keeping it as thin as possible since the layer acts as an ohmic resistance itself. A competitive alternative arises when using an amphiphilic diblock copolymer as a functional template to produce thin, hybrid films containing a conducting titanium dioxide network embedded in an insulating ceramic material. These hybrid films can be produced much thinner compared to the conventional approach and, hence, they possess a 32% higher conductivity. The conventional and the hybrid blocking layer are characterized by conductive scanning probe microscopy and macroscopic conductance measurements. Additionally, the functionality of both blocking layers in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, as tested with current-voltage measurements, is verified.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1607-1613
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume14
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 7 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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