Experimental investigation of hydrogen insertion in copper oxide on photovoltaic performance of p-type dye-sensitized solar cell
Melinda Vajda
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorDaniel Ursu
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Mosoarca
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorNarcis Duteanu
Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Marinela Miclau
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Correspondence
Marinela Miclau, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Dr. A. Păunescu-Podeanu Street 144, 300569 Timisoara, Romania.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMelinda Vajda
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorDaniel Ursu
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorCristina Mosoarca
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorNarcis Duteanu
Politehnica University Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Marinela Miclau
National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
Correspondence
Marinela Miclau, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Dr. A. Păunescu-Podeanu Street 144, 300569 Timisoara, Romania.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: Ministerul Educației și Cercetării Științifice, Grant/Award Number: PN 19 22 01 03; Autoritatea Natională pentru Cercetare Stiintifică
Summary
Hydrogenation of photoanodes has proved to be an effective method to improve performance of n-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Based on unfavorable assumptions given by the theoretical simulations, no hydrogenation of photocathodes and its effect on the conversion efficiency of in p-type DSSCs are reported. While the theoretical works have addressed the study of the electronic structure of hydrogenated Cu2O, our experimental work aims to highlight the features of hydrogenated Cu2O/dye interface which are critical in DSSC and still unexplored. We report the beneficial effect of hydrogen in Cu2O on anchoring of the dye leading to an improvement by 98% for JSC and thus, improving the solar energy conversion efficiency of p-type DSSC. Even in 2% H2 atmosphere, the significant increase in JSC had demonstrated the suitability of hydrogenation in the case of p-type semiconductors as an effective and low-cost way to augment the efficiency of p-DSSCs.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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