Study On Nanostructure Solar Cell Based On One-dimensional TiO₂Oriented Arrays

In this paper, novel nanostructure solar cells based on oriented one-dimensionalP3HT/CdS/TiO₂core-shell nanotube arrays and P3HT/CdS/TiO₂/ZnO core-shell nanorodarrays were fabricated, separately. The related power conversion efficiencies of1.16%and1.77%were obtained with this type of solar cell. The work mechanism of this type of solarcell was discussed briefly, which could be seen as a new direction for the study of solarcell. The main experimental results and methods were listed as follows:Firstly, oriented one-dimensional TiO₂nanotube arrays and one-dimensionalTiO₂/ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared by a sol–gel based method using ZnO nanorodarrays as template. The analysis of SEM and XRD showed that the crystal lattice of TiO₂obtained in the one-dimensional TiO₂nanostructure was anatase. The diameter of theone-dimensional TiO₂nanostructure was about200nm and the length was about1.8μm.Secondly, with the electrochemical method, CdS nanocrystals were electrodepositedonto the TiO₂nanotube arrays and TiO₂/ZnO core-shell nanorods to fabricatesemiconductor-sensitized one-dimensional core-shell nanostructures. The experimentalresults indicated that one-dimensional TiO₂nanostructure was sensitized by CdSnanocrystals, and the photovoltaic performance of the obtained semiconductor-sensitizedone-dimensional core-shell nanostructures was improved largely.Finally, using the electrochemical method, a thin P3HT layer were electrodepositedonto the wall of the semiconductor-sensitized one-dimensional core-shell nanostructures,and then the nanostructured P3HT/CdS/TiO₂solar cell and P3HT/CdS/TiO₂/ZnO solar cellwere fabricated. The power conversion efficiency of nanostructured solar cell based onP3HT/CdS/TiO₂core-shell nanotube arrays was up to1.66%, while a power conversionefficiency of1.77%of the nanostructured solar cell based on P3HT/CdS/TiO₂/ZnOcore-shell nanorod arrays was obtained. The work mechanism of this type of solar cell wasdiscussed briefly.