Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment

Janith Weerasinghe; Suvanker Sen; J. M.K.W. Kumari; M. A.K.L. Dissanayake; G. K.R. Senadeera; C. A. Thotawatthage; Mihiri Ekanayake; Renwu Zhou; Patrick J. Cullen; Prashant Sonar; Krasimir Vasilev; Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment

Janith Weerasinghe
, Suvanker Sen
, J. M.K.W. Kumari
, M. A.K.L. Dissanayake
, G. K.R. Senadeera
, C. A. Thotawatthage
, Mihiri Ekanayake
, Renwu Zhou
, Patrick J. Cullen
, Prashant Sonar
, Krasimir Vasilev
, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov

Queensland University of Technology
Institute of Fundamental Studies Kandy
Open University of Sri Lanka
University of Sydney
University of South Australia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an attractive third-generation photovoltaic technology particularly promising for operation under diffuse and lower light conditions. However, high costs of the precious metals used for sensitizing dyes and low charge generation capability parameters limit the utility of DSSCs in comparison to conventional silicon solar cells. In this study, tin oxide (SnO₂) photoelectrodes are treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas to enhance photovoltaic performance. The effects of nitrogen and argon plasma surface treatment of photoanodes on the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs are systematically investigated by fabricating solar cells using pristine SnO₂ and plasma-treated photoanodes. Solar cells made with Eosin Y sensitized pristine SnO₂ photoanode exhibited a short circuit current density (J_SC) of 1.03 mA cm⁻² and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.30% whereas solar cells made with nitrogen plasma treated photoanode exhibited a J_SC of 6.20 mA cm⁻² and an overall PCE of 1.53% (4 times enhancement) under the same illumination of 100 mW cm⁻² (AM 1.5). The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with Ar plasma treated SnO₂ photoanodes also showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency. Further characterizations revealed that the surface plasma treatments increased the surface roughness of the photoanodes. Plasma treatment led to the incorporation of nitrogen species and removal of surface impurities resulting in an increase in dye adsorption in the photoanode and hence the enhancement in the efficiency of the DSSC. This study demonstrated a one-pot treatment method for efficiency enhancement which could be used in various applications such as photovoltaic, catalytic and energy generation applications including DSSCs, thin-film solar cells, perovskite solar cells, gas sensing, bio-sensing, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and others.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	367-374
Number of pages	8
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	215
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044
State	Published - Feb 2021
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Cold plasma
Dye sensitized solar cells
Eosin Y
Tin oxide

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10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

Cite this

Weerasinghe, J., Sen, S., Kumari, J. M. K. W., Dissanayake, M. A. K. L., Senadeera, G. K. R., Thotawatthage, C. A., Ekanayake, M., Zhou, R., Cullen, P. J., Sonar, P., Vasilev, K., & (Ken) Ostrikov, K. (2021). Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment. Solar Energy, 215, 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

@article{8be50fe2b3464b83a37de8a69d3067bf,

title = "Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment",

abstract = "Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an attractive third-generation photovoltaic technology particularly promising for operation under diffuse and lower light conditions. However, high costs of the precious metals used for sensitizing dyes and low charge generation capability parameters limit the utility of DSSCs in comparison to conventional silicon solar cells. In this study, tin oxide (SnO2) photoelectrodes are treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas to enhance photovoltaic performance. The effects of nitrogen and argon plasma surface treatment of photoanodes on the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs are systematically investigated by fabricating solar cells using pristine SnO2 and plasma-treated photoanodes. Solar cells made with Eosin Y sensitized pristine SnO2 photoanode exhibited a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.03 mA cm−2 and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.30\% whereas solar cells made with nitrogen plasma treated photoanode exhibited a JSC of 6.20 mA cm−2 and an overall PCE of 1.53\% (4 times enhancement) under the same illumination of 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5). The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with Ar plasma treated SnO2 photoanodes also showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency. Further characterizations revealed that the surface plasma treatments increased the surface roughness of the photoanodes. Plasma treatment led to the incorporation of nitrogen species and removal of surface impurities resulting in an increase in dye adsorption in the photoanode and hence the enhancement in the efficiency of the DSSC. This study demonstrated a one-pot treatment method for efficiency enhancement which could be used in various applications such as photovoltaic, catalytic and energy generation applications including DSSCs, thin-film solar cells, perovskite solar cells, gas sensing, bio-sensing, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and others.",

keywords = "Cold plasma, Dye sensitized solar cells, Eosin Y, Tin oxide",

author = "Janith Weerasinghe and Suvanker Sen and Kumari, \{J. M.K.W.\} and Dissanayake, \{M. A.K.L.\} and Senadeera, \{G. K.R.\} and Thotawatthage, \{C. A.\} and Mihiri Ekanayake and Renwu Zhou and Cullen, \{Patrick J.\} and Prashant Sonar and Krasimir Vasilev and \{(Ken) Ostrikov\}, Kostya",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 International Solar Energy Society",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044",

language = "英语",

volume = "215",

pages = "367--374",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

Weerasinghe, J, Sen, S, Kumari, JMKW, Dissanayake, MAKL, Senadeera, GKR, Thotawatthage, CA, Ekanayake, M, Zhou, R, Cullen, PJ, Sonar, P, Vasilev, K & (Ken) Ostrikov, K 2021, 'Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment', Solar Energy, vol. 215, pp. 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment

AU - Weerasinghe, Janith

AU - Sen, Suvanker

AU - Kumari, J. M.K.W.

AU - Dissanayake, M. A.K.L.

AU - Senadeera, G. K.R.

AU - Thotawatthage, C. A.

AU - Ekanayake, Mihiri

AU - Zhou, Renwu

AU - Cullen, Patrick J.

AU - Sonar, Prashant

AU - Vasilev, Krasimir

AU - (Ken) Ostrikov, Kostya

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an attractive third-generation photovoltaic technology particularly promising for operation under diffuse and lower light conditions. However, high costs of the precious metals used for sensitizing dyes and low charge generation capability parameters limit the utility of DSSCs in comparison to conventional silicon solar cells. In this study, tin oxide (SnO2) photoelectrodes are treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas to enhance photovoltaic performance. The effects of nitrogen and argon plasma surface treatment of photoanodes on the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs are systematically investigated by fabricating solar cells using pristine SnO2 and plasma-treated photoanodes. Solar cells made with Eosin Y sensitized pristine SnO2 photoanode exhibited a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.03 mA cm−2 and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.30% whereas solar cells made with nitrogen plasma treated photoanode exhibited a JSC of 6.20 mA cm−2 and an overall PCE of 1.53% (4 times enhancement) under the same illumination of 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5). The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with Ar plasma treated SnO2 photoanodes also showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency. Further characterizations revealed that the surface plasma treatments increased the surface roughness of the photoanodes. Plasma treatment led to the incorporation of nitrogen species and removal of surface impurities resulting in an increase in dye adsorption in the photoanode and hence the enhancement in the efficiency of the DSSC. This study demonstrated a one-pot treatment method for efficiency enhancement which could be used in various applications such as photovoltaic, catalytic and energy generation applications including DSSCs, thin-film solar cells, perovskite solar cells, gas sensing, bio-sensing, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and others.

AB - Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an attractive third-generation photovoltaic technology particularly promising for operation under diffuse and lower light conditions. However, high costs of the precious metals used for sensitizing dyes and low charge generation capability parameters limit the utility of DSSCs in comparison to conventional silicon solar cells. In this study, tin oxide (SnO2) photoelectrodes are treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas to enhance photovoltaic performance. The effects of nitrogen and argon plasma surface treatment of photoanodes on the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs are systematically investigated by fabricating solar cells using pristine SnO2 and plasma-treated photoanodes. Solar cells made with Eosin Y sensitized pristine SnO2 photoanode exhibited a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.03 mA cm−2 and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.30% whereas solar cells made with nitrogen plasma treated photoanode exhibited a JSC of 6.20 mA cm−2 and an overall PCE of 1.53% (4 times enhancement) under the same illumination of 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5). The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with Ar plasma treated SnO2 photoanodes also showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency. Further characterizations revealed that the surface plasma treatments increased the surface roughness of the photoanodes. Plasma treatment led to the incorporation of nitrogen species and removal of surface impurities resulting in an increase in dye adsorption in the photoanode and hence the enhancement in the efficiency of the DSSC. This study demonstrated a one-pot treatment method for efficiency enhancement which could be used in various applications such as photovoltaic, catalytic and energy generation applications including DSSCs, thin-film solar cells, perovskite solar cells, gas sensing, bio-sensing, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and others.

KW - Cold plasma

KW - Dye sensitized solar cells

KW - Eosin Y

KW - Tin oxide

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85100148827

U2 - 10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

DO - 10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.044

M3 - 文章

AN - SCOPUS:85100148827

SN - 0038-092X

VL - 215

SP - 367

EP - 374

JO - Solar Energy

JF - Solar Energy

ER -

Efficiency enhancement of low-cost metal free dye sensitized solar cells via non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma surface treatment

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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