Influences of alcoholic solvents on spray pyrolysis deposition of TiO2 blocking layer films for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells

Influences of alcoholic solvents for titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate) (TPA) precursor solutions on the spray pyrolysis deposited TiO2 films and the photovoltaic performance of the solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (SDSCs) using these TiO2 films as the blocking layers were investigated. Smooth TiO2 films were obtained by spray pyrolysis deposition of a TPA solution in isopropanol (IPA) at a relatively low temperature of 260 °C. On the other hand, when ethanol was used as solvent, the TiO2 films fabricated at the same temperature showed much rougher surfaces with many pinholes. Our results showed that ethanol reacts with TPA to form titanium diethoxide bis(acetylacetonate) (TEA), which requires a higher thermal decomposition temperature than that of TPA. SDSCs with TiO2 blocking layer films fabricated using a TPA solution in IPA showed higher power conversion efficiencies with smaller variations.

Graphical abstractAlcoholic solvents used for the TiO2 precursor play a critical role in determining the surface morphology of blocking layers and thus the photovoltaic performance of the SDSCs. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Solvent influences morphology of spray pyrolysis deposited TiO2 blocking layer. ► Ethanol reacts with TPA, resulting poor quality of blocking layer. ► Isopropanol is better than ethanol for obtaining smooth blocking layer. ► SDSC with blocking layer made with isopropanol showed better performance.