Enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell performance using TiO2:Nb blocking layer deposited by soft chemical method

Role of TiO2:Nb (NTO) blocking layer on the performance of TiO2-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was studied. NTO blocking layer was deposited over conducting glass by a simple dip coating method. Niobium content was varied to identify the optimum level for better DSSC performance. NTO blocking layer sandwiched between conducting glass substrate and dye-sensitized TiO2 photoanode layer resulted in a DSSC efficiency of 5.10%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis was used to understand the difference in the charge transfer processes among the assembled DSSCs.