Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers as Templates for the Generation of Binary Metal Oxide Mesoporous Interfacial Layers for Solid State Photovoltaic Cells

Version 1 : Received: 31 January 2024 / Approved: 1 February 2024 / Online: 2 February 2024 (04:47:08 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Lim, S.M.; Jeong, H.; Moon, J.; Park, J.T. Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers as Templates for the Generation of Binary Metal Oxide Mesoporous Interfacial Layers for Solid-State Photovoltaic Cells. Nanomaterials 2024, 14, 352. Lim, S.M.; Jeong, H.; Moon, J.; Park, J.T. Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers as Templates for the Generation of Binary Metal Oxide Mesoporous Interfacial Layers for Solid-State Photovoltaic Cells. Nanomaterials 2024, 14, 352.

Abstract

The binary metal oxide mesoporous interfacial layers (bi-MO meso IF layer) templated by a graft copolymer is synthesized between a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2). Amphiphilic graft copolymers, Poly(epichlorohydrin)-graft-poly(styrene), PECH-g-PS, was used as a structure-directing agent, and the fabricated bi-MO meso IF layer exhibits good interconnectivity and high porosity. Even if the amount of ZnO in bi-MO meso IF layer increased, it was confirmed that the morphology and porosity of bi-MO meso IF layer was well maintained. In addtion, bi-MO meso IF layer coated onto FTO substrates show higher transmittance compared with a pristine FTO substrate and dense-TiO2/FTO, due to the reduced surface roughness of FTO. The overall conversion efficiency (η) of a solid state photovoltaic cells, dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated with nc-TiO2 layer/bi-MO meso IF layer TZ1 used as a photoanode reaches 5.0% at 100 mW cm-2, which is higher than that of DSSC with a nc-TiO2 layer/dense-TiO2 layer (4.2%), resulting from enhanced light harvesting, good interconnectivity, and reduced interfacial resistance. The cell efficiency of the device did not change after 15 days, indicating that the bi-MO meso IF layer with solid-state electrolyte has improved electrode/electrolyte interface and electrochemical stability. Additionally, commercial scattering layer/nc-TiO2 layer/bi-MO meso IF layer TZ1 photoanode fabricated solid state photovoltaic cells (DSSC) achieved an overall conversion efficiency (η) of 6.4% at 100 mW cm-2.

Keywords

Graft copolymer; Mesoporous; Metal oxide; Interfacial layer; Solid state electrolyte; Photovoltaic cells; Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)

Subject

Engineering, Chemical Engineering

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