Effect of Blocking Layer to Boost Photoconversion Efficiency in ZnO Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The effect of a ZnO compact blocking layer (BL)
in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on ZnO photo-
anodes is investigated. BL is generated through spray deposition
onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting glass before
the deposition of a ZnO active layer. The functional properties
of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are then investigated as a
function of the thickness of the BL for two different kinds of
ZnO active layer, i.e., hierarchically self-assembled nanoparticles
and microcubes composed of closely packed ZnO sheets.
Presence of BL leads to the improvement of photoconversion
efficiency (PCE), by physically insulating the electrolyte and the FTO. This effect increases at increasing BL thickness up to around 800 nm, while thicker BL results in reduced cell performance. Remarkable increase in Jsc is recorded, which doubles as compared to cells without blocking layer, leading to PCE as high as 5.6% in the best cell under one sun irradiation (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm−2). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) elucidates the mechanism boosting the functional features of the cells with BL, which relies with enhanced chemical capacitance together with an almost unchanged recombination resistance, which are reflected in an increased electron lifetime. The results foresee a straightforward way to significantly improve the performance of ZnO-based DSSCs.