(53g) New Structure Design of Improved Zinc Oxide Nanowire-Based Solar Cells

NEW STRUCTURE
DESIGN OF IMPROVED

ZINC OXIDE
NANOWIRE-BASED SOLAR CELLS

Mallarie D. McCune-
Ph.D. Candidate

Dr. Yulin Deng-
Advisor

Georgia Institute of Technology, Department of
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Abstract

Because of its excellent and unique physical properties, ZnO
nanowires have been widely used in numerous scientific fields such as sensor,
solar cell, nanogenerators, etc. Although it is believed that single crystal
ZnO has a much higher electron transfer rate than TiO₂, it was found
that ZnO nanowire-based dye-sensitized solar cells have lower efficiency than
TiO₂ nanoparticle-based solar cells, with the highest efficiency of
4.1%. To improve the ZnO nanowire based solar cell efficiency, different solar
cell structures were proposed and related mechanisms were studied. The first
approach was based on the addition of a block layer that will prevent electron
back transfer at the anode, thus eliminating short-circuiting of the cell and
increasing the cell efficiency. The second approach focused on the formation of
a 3-D transparent conducting oxide network that enhances the electron transport
within the solar cell. The combination of TiO₂ with ZnO nanowires
for dye-sensitized solar cell application was also investigated. All of my
research objectives are vital to the universal research efforts dedicated to
resolving the global energy crisis.