Systematic analysis of TiO2 compact layer effect on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

Prevention of the charge recombination at the photoelectrode is an important consideration in performance improvement of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TiO2 as a compact layer was deposited on the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/glass substrate by using a TiCl4 aqueous solution in this study. The deposited TiO2 compact layer films fired at fired at 500 °C for 30 min were formed as a crystalline anatase phase with stoichiometry. The surface coverage and thickness of the TiO2 compact layer increased as the TiCl4 treatment time increased. The TCL30 sample treated for 30 min showed higher open-circuit voltage (0.739 V), a higher short-circuit current density (10.398 mA/cm2), and a greater fill factor (68.22) with higher power-conversion efficiency (5.237