ZnO-treated TiO2 inverse opal electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

We report that the photovoltaic properties of inverse opal TiO2 (io-TiO2) electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells can be enhanced by ZnO treatment of the inverse opal structures. ZnO was coated on the surface of io-TiO2 via the sol–gel reaction of ZnO precursors. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements showed that the amount of ZnO on the io-TiO2 surface was measured to be 0.12–0.50 wt% of zinc, depending on the number of coatings. Compared to bare inverse opal electrodes, the energy conversion efficiency of cells increased for the 0.35 wt% ZnO-coated electrodes, and then decreased for the 0.50 wt% ZnO-coated electrodes. The maximum efficiency of 5.3% was achieved, corresponding to a 23% increase in efficiency compared with bare io-TiO2 electrodes. The enhanced efficiency was mainly attributed to the improvement of the open-circuit voltage (VOC). EIS and dark current measurements confirmed that this enhancement in VOC was due to the movement of the conduction band edge in a negative direction after ZnO treatment, rather than the formation of a barrier layer for electron recombination.

► ZnO-treated TiO2 inverse opals were fabricated for the use of electrodes in DSSC.
► A multiple coating of ZnO precursors was applied to control the coating quantity.
► The effect of ZnO quantity on photovoltaic parameters was investigated.
► ZnO treatment enhanced VOC by shifting the conduction band edge of TiO2.