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journal article·2021-02-09Open access

Electrolyte/Dye/TiO2 Interfacial Structures of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Revealed by In Situ Neutron Reflectometry with Contrast Matching

Ke Deng, Jacqueline M. Cole, Joshaniel F. K. Cooper, John R. P. Webster, Richard Haynes, Othman K. Al Bahri, Nina-Juliane Steinke, Shaoliang Guan, Liliana Stan, Xiaozhi Zhan, Tao Zhu, Daniel W. Nye, Gavin B. G. Stenning

Langmuir· Volume 37· Issue 5
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Source abstract

Abstract

The nature of an interfacial structure buried within a device assembly is often critical to its function. For example, the dye/TiO2 interfacial structure that comprises the working electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) governs its photovoltaic output. These structures have been determined outside of the DSC device, using ex situ characterization methods; yet, they really should be probed while held within a DSC since they are modulated by the device environment. Dye/TiO2 structures will be particularly influenced by a layer of electrolyte ions that lies above the dye self-assembly. We show that electrolyte/dye/TiO2 interfacial structures can be resolved using in situ neutron reflectometry with contrast matching. We find that electrolyte constituents ingress into the self-assembled monolayer of dye molecules that anchor onto TiO2. Some dye/TiO2 anchoring configurations are modulated by the formation of electrolyte/dye intermolecular interactions. These electrolyte-influencing structural changes will affect dye-regeneration and electron-injection DSC operational processes. This underpins the importance of this in situ structural determination of electrolyte/dye/TiO2 interfaces within representative DSC device environments.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Energy storageElectronic materials

OpenAlex topics: TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom

Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom

ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom

Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States

Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom

Dongguan Neutron Science Center, Dongguan 523000, China

Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China

Funding

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council · Royal Academy of Engineering · Basic Energy Sciences · Science and Technology Facilities Council · Ministry of Higher Education Oman · 1851 Royal Commission of the Great Exhibition

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