Doubled layered ITO/SnO2 conducting glass for substrate of dye-sensitized solar cells

The effects of indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO/SnO2 conducting substrates on photovoltaic properties of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) using nanocrystalline TiO2 were studied. The decrease in fill factor of the DSCs was correlated to the increase in resistance of conducting substrate. The heat stability of ITO conducting glass was improved by depositing SnO2 on ITO layer. The efficiency of the cells using double layered ITO/SnO2 substrate remarkably increased comparing with that of the cells using ITO substrates. It is worth mentioning that increasing in sintering time, which enhanced the electronic contact between substrate and TiO2, also modified the cell performance of MP-TiO2 cells. Our experimental finding suggests that 3000 Å ITO substrate, which was covered by 1000 Å SnO2 layer, exhibited the best properties for the DSCs.