A simple route towards low-temperature processing of nanoporous thin films using UV-irradiation: Application for dye solar cells

Zoë Tebby (1) , Odile Babot (1) , Dominique Michau (2) , Lionel Hirsch (3) , Luís D. Carlos (4) , Thierry Toupance (1)

1 ISM - Institut des Sciences Moléculaires
2 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux
3 IMS - Laboratoire de l'intégration, du matériau au système
4 Departemento de Fisica and CICECO

Fabrication of anatase TiO₂ porous films at low temperature was achieved by a very simple, straightforward and cheap method involving the connection of oxide particles by UV-irradiation in air. The novelty of the method relies on the direct UV-irradiation of oxide nanoparticles, without the presence of any oxide precursor or any additional treatment to form the nanoparticulate film. As electrodes for dye solar cells (DSCs), the 1–3 μm-thick films modified with Dyesol N3 dye showed high photovoltaic responses, a maximum overall energy conversion efficiency of 2.4–2.5% being measured under AM1.5 illumination at 100 and 140 mW cm⁻². This method was extended to other semi-conducting oxides such as SnO₂. Efficiencies as high as 1.8% and 1.5% were measured under AM1.5 illumination at 64 and 140 mW cm⁻², respectively. This approach draws new prospects in the field of plastic organic–inorganic hybrid devices.

Mots clés: Titanium dioxide; Tin dioxide; UV-processing; Photosensitization; Dye solar cells; Flexible substrates

Domaines: Matériaux

Zoë Tebby, Odile Babot, Dominique Michau, Lionel Hirsch, Luís D. Carlos, et al.. A simple route towards low-temperature processing of nanoporous thin films using UV-irradiation: Application for dye solar cells. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2009, 205 (1), pp.70-76. ⟨10.1016/j.jphotochem.2009.03.020⟩. ⟨hal-00395580⟩